Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Sullivan letter diary, 27 October 1915-9 October 1917 / Eugene Sullivan
MLMSS 1733

[Transcriber's note:
Contents describe life in camp at Liverpool, N.S.W., Salisbury Plains, England and his experiences in the trenches in France.]

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[Title page]

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1st. Letter.

C Coy. 9th. Batt. ........Regt.
Holdsworthy 27/10/15.

Dearest Mother/.

I enlisted in the infantry yesterday and both Stirling and I are now in camp at Holdworth from whence we are endeavouring to get transferred to the respective brigades in which we wish to go. Barnes letter failed to obtain me a position in the A.M.C. but Captain MacLean to whom it was addressed promised to list me for it if I produced the St. John's Ambulance Certificate, and I will then secure the first vacancy. That is outside those who have already had their papers marked for it, and they are a considerable number in excess of present requirements.
We presented ourselves at the Barracks yesterday morning, as we understood to do when we first volunteered. We were then given Hot pies cakes and tea by some ladies and marched to the Central Railway Station from whence we trained to Liverpool. From there to Holdsworthy is a distance of about 5 miles which we did on foot. We were given a Hot tea on our arrival at the Camp consisting of stew and tea and bread and jam. Stirling and I are in the same tent, with a very decent crowd of young fellows - ten in all. None of them have done any drill before so they appointed me tent commander. There is nothing attached to the position beyond seeing that the tent is kept tidy and that each man takes a turn at Orderly duty and does his share of the graft. The men themselves appoint who they like. I am not even a Non-Com.
The Camp here is kept splendidly. There is a place for everything and no

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scraps of any kind are allowed to be left about the ground.
An Orderly is appointed to each tent daily, each occupant taking his turn and it is his duty to clean up the tents and take all scraps to the incinerators where they are burned. He also brings supplies for the tent from the kitchen &c,. We have to get up at 6 O'clock in the morning, and are then served with a mug of strong coffee. A Dixie, small boiler, being placed between our tent each two tents to supply both of them. Also bread and jam is supplied at this snack. We are then marched out for physical drill. We return to breakfast of stew and vegetables, potatoes, pumpkin & turnips, and tea and bread and jam, at about 8 O'clock. At about 9.30 a.m. we parade for drill. At 12 noon we knock off for dinner of stew and vegetables tea and bread and jam. We parade for drill again at 2 p.m. and drill until about 4 p.m. We have tea at about 5 p.m. and the rest of the night off! Holdworthy is much healthier than Liverpool, being on an eminence, and not right on the river bank. It is quite a model Camp, and the Officers aver all a very nice lot of men. Of course they are the only Officers I know as yet, but the men say they are all very decent. The Camp is quite a town in itself. There is a Groce General Store on the grounds where most things can be obtained also a Chemists Shop, Barber's, fruiterers, photographers &c., Also a Salvation Army and two Y.M.C.A. tents, one for Concerts and the other for writing letters, playing cards, drafts &c., I am writing this letter in the latter. They provide the pen, ink, and paper.
We are splendidly looked after in all particulars. We have been each issued with 1 suit of dungarees, 1 pair of boots (very strong & heavy) 1 Great coat, 2 singlets (good quality) and 2 flannel shirts, 1 pair of under pants, 3 pair of socks, a cardigan jacket, 1 hat (felt-military) besides our bedclothes consisting of 3 blankets and 1 water-proof sheet. We are to receive another pair suit of dungarees and pair of underpants, besides our service uniform and kit. It must cost the Government a tidy sum to equip each of us. Everything is of the very best quality. Many of the recruits have never been so well looked after before or had so copious a wardrobe. We are given plenty of everything to eat and if we run short obtain more for the asking. The food is very nicely prepared. It rather lacks variety but that defect can be remedied if the recruits like to buy extras themselves.

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You will be pleased to hear that no liquor is allowed into the camp and that the Officers are very strict on this point. Soft drink can be obtained on the ground but nothing stronger than Ginger beer. One of the recruits with us was foolish enough to bring a couple of bottles of beer out with him and as a result he spent his first night in the guard tent and forfeited his beer.
I was very pleased to receive your letter & but as I had already made all arrangements to go into camp I could not take advantage of your suggestion even if I had desired to do so. There is a male class of about 60 sitting for the St. John's Certificate next Tuesday and I intend sitting with them. I called on the Secretary of the Association who informed me that I could do so as the class rolls would show that I had attended the prescribed course of lectures at Lismore. I will then be listed for the A.M.C as beforementioned.
I was very glad to hear of Douglas's money making capacity but , or course, It does not surprise me. He has a splendid career in front of him and by the time he has attained my years will be a man of standing in the Community and a great help and comfort to you.
I knew you would be very disappointed to hear that I had passed but it is all for the best, I am sure, and feel that I have only done my duty by enlisting. It would be very uncomfortable for us all if I remained behind when all the other young men in my position were at the front. Besides Douglas would have gone had I remained and he will be a much greater

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success in civil life that I ever would.
We are a very happy community here - just like school boys. There are no grumblers in our tent thank Goodness, and very few, if any, in the camp. Of course we all have our little jokes at the food but they help our appreciation of it. All new men when they first come into camp are called Marmalades - as that is the usual jam.
I have everything I could possibly require in the way of clothes & money. In fact I am very sorry now that I did not leave more of both of them at home. The money is safe as I invested in a money belt and wear it constantly. I have left my port containing most of my clothes at Sharpe's and will take more of them in this week-end. We are allowed from 12 noon on Saturday till 12 noon on Sunday off but I intend applying for an extention till Monday morning.
I purchased a small green wicker suit case for my clothes in camp. It has a lock and is all I require in that line and saves my Port.
Sharpes have been exceptionally kind to me and treat me like one of their own boys. I go and come as I please and always find a nice bed ready for me.
The last post has now sounded so I will conclude. I will write again and let you know how I am faring. I am sure the fine healthy life will agree with me. All the men here look [text missing]. I trust the firm will be able to secure a trustworthy clerk as I [text missing] it will be is father who is doing the extra work [text missing] till then.
I am afraid Hit's Home Nursing book will arrive a fortnight or so too late but trust it may prove of some use. In its leaves is a needle threader. The point of the wire is to be pushed through the eye of the needle, the cotton threaded through it, and then pulled through the needle. I hope it may prove useful for the machine and not like many new inventions, more trouble than the old method.
Your loving son
Eugene

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Military Camp at Holdsworthy
C Company 9th. Bat.
3rd. Novr. 1915.

Dear father.
I managed to get leave last Saturday evening and Sunday until midnight and on arrival at Sharpe's I found your and mother's letter awaiting me. I was very glad to receive the letter to Major Lawes and will secure leave as soon as possible in order that I may present it to him and see what he can do for me. Tell Mr. Ord I am very thankful for his interest in my welfare and for his help.
I have arranged with the St. John's Ambulance Association to transfer me to a Class sitting on next Tuesday for the St. John's Certificate. It is composed of the men employed in the Sydney Harbour Trust Offices and is a very large class - about 60 men in all. It is the lowest qualification which will be accepted for the A.A.M.C. There are so many applicants for positions in this corps that some qualification is necessary before one can be listed for it.
About 2000 men are leaving here some time this week and ourselves and the men who enlisted with us last Tuesday will form the nucleus of a new Battalion. Most of the men have done no drill before but all except two or three are very anxious to learn so we should get along fairly quickly. As I find I know more about drill than most of the men in our Company I will probably be made a

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non com. if I remain here long enough. It means a great deal of extra work but the increase in pay more than compensates for that, besides it should greatly increase my prospects of getting into the A.A.M.C. Holdsworthy is merely a camp for preliminary training of recruits. None of us have rifles. The usual period that a recruit spends here is four weeks and at the end of that time he is sent on to Liverpool where he goes through the musketry course and rifle drill &c., The time varies considerably though. Those leaving this week have been here for the past ten weeks.
The remount unit are camped opposite us and Mr. Styles is there with them. I have not been able to get across to see him yet.
The German concentration Camp is also near us. About half a mile further on. The German prisoners are employed in clearing the forest, burning off and hauling wood &c. We frequently see gangs of them clad in dungarees and white hats alongside the road cutting and stacking wood.
Tell Vesey I went up to Riverview on Sunday evening and saw Tare. He is looking splendid and does not seem to be at all home sick though he was looking forward to a good long holiday at Xmas, which he said Vesey promised him. He showed Stirling and me over the grounds and buildings. He is very anxious to see us in uniform and I promised to pay him a visit later on when we are issued with them. Lights out is about to sound and everybody is

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making for their tents so I must now conclude.
With best love to all and many thanks for letter of introduction.
I remain
Your loving son,
Eugene.

P.S. Stirling and I had tea with Nell and Grandmother last Sunday. After Tea we went on and visited Poll. Dora and Lola are looking splendid and are decorated with badges, the gifts of soldier friends. Grace Hildebrand was there and they entertained us with songs and music.

Notes: Major Lawes; remount unit - Mr. Styles; German P.O.W. Camp.

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Military Camp at Holdsworthy.
C Company, 9th Battalion.
3rd. November 1915.

Dear Douglas/.
As you will see by the heading I am now in Camp at Holdsworthy. I suppose mother has already given you particulars of my enlistment and failure to get into the A.A.M.C.
We are very well looked after here - plenty of food but not much variety. On arrival at the Camp all the new recruits are greeted with cries of "Marmalades" and "You'll miss you Mummy" and similar witicisms. This led us to expect that our chief jam would be Marmalade but we found on the contrary that we got very few tins of marmalade.
Our tent is named "the Keystone" that name having been painted on the front by some former occupants, and it is very appropriate to the present inmates. Despite my ambition to be a second Charles Chaplin I must admit that I am outdone by the members of the Keystone Company. They are always having furious wordy warfares over trifles and some of them are a treat to listen to. They all come from Ashfield and knew one another well before enlisting. They are not a very pugnacious crew, despite their rowdiness, and no matter how much they quarrel amongst themselves, they leave Stirling and me and all our belongings strictly alone.
We all retire to our bunks early and while Stirling and I doze off to sleep the others play cards or "argufy".

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I will endeavour to give you a sketch of our tent at night as we lie packed around the tent with our feet into the centre pole and the candle propped up on an improvised table near the door.
"Jim Flynn", whose proper name I really don't know, is the first on the right inside the door. He is only 19 and is held in admiration by the others on account of his reputation as a beer drinker. He is only a little fellow and very quiet out here, the only evidence of his past prowess being his often repeated wish for ½ dozen pints or a vividly expressed determination to put down a dozen quarts as soon as he hits town. No beer being allowed in camp. He stares hard with an amazing fixity of gaze, at a point on the tent pole in front of him for hours at a stretch without showing any sign of interest whilst the others talk about him and crack jokes at his expense. I don't know what his former occupation was, but he seems a decent hearted little chap.
Next him comes "Christee". He is very cock-eyed, very rude - no manners at all, a real glutton for his meals, and a terror to swear. He is a fair size, weighs about 11 stone, but is not very tall. He was formerly a butcher boy. He is always on the cadge for something and is as lazy as sin. No. 3 is "Bob". He is a very decent little chap and a great wag. He is good natured and as a consequence is much imposed upon by the others. He is always losing some portion of his kit but never crumbles and professes to be quite satisfied with the remnant.

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Number 4 is a boy of 17. He is nothing in particular. Seems a decent sort but endeavours to convince the others that he is a man by swearing as much as possible.
Number 5 is "Sinker" a real character. His father keeps a laundry. He is only a boy and is very anxious to get on at the drill. His chief amusement is playing poker for pennies. He cleaned the tent out, barring Stirling and myself, last week, but this week "Jim Flynn" is champion and holds all the spare cash.
Number 6 is "Allslops" an ingenious diversion of his name Hislops. It suits him too. He is lazy and dirty. A mild enough individual without much spirit but when anything is mislaid in the tent it turns up among his belongings. I only refer to military kit tin plates, knives forks & such like, I don't think he would take any private belongings.
Number 7 is "Lizzie". He is a real hard doer. Comes from off a station. He is very good natured and we are always having jokes at his expense. He is an inveterate smoker and is always looking for matches. He smokes them in much the same way as Kevin used. He thinks nothing of waking one at one or two O'clock in the morning with his drawled " Hey! Hey! Gius a match".
Number 8 is the "Boston Burglar". The day we arrived he came into camp drunk with a whiskey flask in his pocket and a bottle of beer

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under each arm. Needless to say he spent the night in the guard tent, but since then he is a reformed character. He is very neat and is always helping to straighten up the tent and has made a couple of stools and a table. He is an English migrant and rather witty. How he came by the nick name I don't know. He doesn't burgle.
Next comes Stirling and then myself. This completes the number in our tent. We all manage to get along well together, despite our varying dispositions, I am known as Mr. Sullivan, if you please, and Stirling is Mr. Sharpe. I don't think this distinction will remain with us long.
Our chief trouble is the dust. It is thick here and gets on everything. It is impossible to keep oneself or ones belongings clean.
I am feeling very tired so I will now conclude. Our tent full started toe - stringing one another last night so I didn't get much sleep but I intend catching up on it to-night. I must admit I was the first and prime offender. I suggested and tried the devise as a prevention of snoring.
Mother told me how well you are doing up there and needless to say I was delighted. Mother has such a high opinion of the ability of us boys that it is a great pleasure to find one of us giving her some foundation for the fulfillment of her hopes. Bravo old man. We'll hear of you as a leading barrister before long.
Your loving brother. Eugene. - Excuse, even if you can't read, scrawl.

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C Company (3rd letter)
18th Battalion,
Casula.
Friday, 12th November 1915.

Dear Father & Mother/.
I received your letters during the week and I will do as father says regarding the notice to
Saddington.

Twelve thousand men left our camp at Holdsworthy for Liverpool last Friday. They made a very fine show marching out with bands playing and colours flying. It left the camp fairly empty but crowds of new men have been coming in daily since.
We are now among the more experienced men at the camp the others being, for the most part "Marmalades." (The name given to all new recruits).
We struck camp this morning and marched to Casula from Holdsworthy.

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The march was not a very long one - only 6 miles or so. There were about 3000 of us in all.
Casula is an ideal spot. Grass everywhere and no dust - our chief trouble at Holdsworthy. It is only 1½ miles from Liverpool and is on the railway line. We are up on a hill and overlook Liverpool. We will now go through our whole training here and will not have to go to Liverpool at all. This is very fortunate for us as the latter is a very dusty and rather unhealthy spot.
As I did not see any prospect of my getting off to see Major Lawes I sent Mrs. Ord's letter on to him telling him what I was anxious to do, last Wednesday. I expect to have an answer to it in a few days, I sat for the St. Johns Certificate

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last Tuesday with the Sydney Harbour Trust Class. The doctor said I passed but it will be some time I before receive the Certificate of the Association. The exam wasn't a very comprehensive one.
There was a call for Artillery men to-day and a great number of our best men volunteered. That is the worst of the infantry they are drained by all other branches of the service and practically only the dregs, or those without any special qualification, remain.
As we are not properly settled down yet and have no proper light to write by I will now conclude with best love to all.
I remain, Your loving son,
Eugene.

Notes: Major Lawes.

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Tuesday
C Company
Reinforcement *(to the) 19th., Casula.

Dearest Mother/.
I received your letter of the 11th. Instant to-day. We are quite settled down at Casula now and I like the place very much. We are all buckling down to work in a more businesslike manner too as we are supposed to have got over our first awkwardness.
A number of our Officers have been changed and the new men are making us put more vim into our work. I like our lieutenant very much and the Captain is also a real good sort. The Y.M.C.A. tent has not been erected yet so I am constrained to write in pencil.

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As to how I like the life I like it very well. We are like a lot of school boys only that we are better friends and it is very seldom indeed that there is a row even amongst the whole battalion. It is very funny to see all the different squads at the morning physical culture exercises.
One section will be hopping up and down flapping their arms and legs for all the world like those figures on strings which work when you give a pull. Others will be squatted down on their heels and waddling along in that position, others racing on hands and knees, others doing the goose step, others leaping over one anothers backs, in fact looking around one can see groups in almost every imaginable

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position. This hours drill in the early morning is by far the most enjoyable in the day.
We received our pay to-day for the last three weeks viz. £5.5.0. Not too bad is it.
I got last week end off and went in to town and stayed with Sharpe's. On Saturday night Stirling, Stuart, Maggie, Douglas & myself went to the theatre. An American play - called "Kick in" was the attraction. It wasn't much good but I am enclosing portion of the programme containing a glossary of American slang terms which I know will interest Kit and Douglas. I hope there not too populars.
With regard to your Christmas trip I think it would do you all good to have a run down. I would willingly supply £20 towards it. I am not

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likely to need it for some considerable time and you might as well have the use of it. I think I have that amount in the Savings Bank at Lismore.
I won't be able to get very much leave when you are down but of course you could visit the camp. We are only supposed to get week end leave once in every five weeks henceforth and one night a week off from 4 p.m. till midnight.
We have a very good band here and it is a great assistance to marching as well as affording an attractive entertainment. They belong to the depot and do not leave with any of the battalions when they go to the front.
They rendered a very attractive programme to-night.

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Three more men were put in our tent yesterday. That brings the total up to ten - the number quartered in most of the others. They seem very decent chaps.
The ten men in the camp next ours were sent into contact camp last week owing to one of their number developing measles. Immediately on the appearance of any such contagious disease the whole tent full in which it appears are isolated - sent into a special contact camp - and remain there until there is no possibility of the disease being spread by them.
In the case of measles the tent mates of the person contracting them have to remain in contact Camp for 10 days. If none of them have contracted developed them in that

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period they are then released but otherwise they must put in another ten weeks. During this period they must drill just the same as the rest of the men.
Ken Guest has just come into Camp. I think I told you he came down on the boat with me.
He is not in the same company but belongs to a depot battalion from which men are drawn to fill up our battalion when any vacancies occur so as to keep our battalion up to full strength.
I have not managed to get out to see the McDonalds yet. If I knew exactly where they were I could run out some Sunday but I am never in town early enough on Saturday to reach or ring up the bank before closing time.

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I have not received any reply from Major Lawes. I sent on the letter addressed to Liverpool Camp - which should find him provided the the title is right and has not been magnified by his sister. Most doctors are captains in the A.A.M.C.
I was very pleased to receive Douglas's long and amusing letter. It must tickle the flying foxes immensely to see him squatting for hours in the tub thinking himself perfectly concealed whilst they are comfortably settled in a neighbouring tree watching him and waiting for him to get tired before they venture within range.
The orderlies are appearing with the dixies so I will now close because I am not out with the rest with my plate I will have to

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be satisfied with the leavings.
With best love from
Your loving son,
Eugene

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Field Service Department
Liverpool Camp.
Monday 22nd November 1915.

No.1.
Dear Father/.
As you suggested in your letter I wrote to the Prothonotary with reference to my enlistment and when I receive an acknowledgement I will forward it together with a copy of my letter, which I cannot lay my hands on at present, to be kept with my papers which are in the safe.
You will be pleased to hear that Major Lawes has arranged for my transfer to the A.A.M.C. I went to Liverpool to-day to have the transfer arranged and will move there for good to-morrow. Tell Mrs. Ord I am very grateful to her for the letter she sent as otherwise I certainly would never have succeeded in securing a transfer.

Stirling got transferred to the Artillery, after vainly trying to get into the Engineers. Considering my endeavours to get into the A.A.M.C. would prove fruitless I also applied to get into the Artillery shortly after Stirling. That was before I received Mrs. Ord's letter. They called for three hundred Artillery men for gunners - and over a thousand from my camp applied for the positions. The Colonel who came over for them, could afford,

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therefore to be very particular in his choice and he took full advantage of this, and only picked the bigger and older men. As a result I was left out and I am just as pleased now since I have secured the other transfer.
Stirling is on his first leave now and expects to be leaving in a fortnight or so. He and the whole family, - Mr. & Mrs., Douglas, Maggie, & Stuart, - and two others, came out to visit me last Sunday and they brought a great supply of cakes, sandwiches, and fruit, which were greatly appreciated. We went out on to the hill at the back of the camp and had a regular feast. Stirling took a snapshot of us with his V.O. Kodak and if it comes out any good I will send you one.
They all thought I looked very comical in my dungarees. At first I used to feel that way myself but have grown quite used to them by now. The Sharpe's are having an evening in Stirling's honour next Wednesday and I am going to attend if I can manage to get leave. Now I have secured a transfer to the A.A.M.C. I will have to spend a much longer period in camp. I don't half like leaving our Company now that I have made friends among the boys and properly settled down. The life we lead here is a very healthy one and

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I feel splendid.
Have you had any further news of Kevin or received any further instalment of his pay. Mrs. Sharpe received a cable from Norman, some time ago, from a hospital in England, I forget the name of the town, asking for a remittance of portion of his pay, from which she surmises that he must be on the recovery. He contracted Pneumonia, I think it was, while in the trenches and was sent there to England.
All the boys in our tent came from Ashfield and they were given a spread and presentation of two pair of hand knitted socks each on Saturday night last. They wanted me to attend with them as they insist on regarding me as an Ashfieldite in consequence of my staying with the Sharpes. I declined the honour but nevertheless they brought me a couple of pair of socks. I have no doubt they will come in very handy later on but I have plenty for the present.
I will write and let you know my new address as soon as I have settled in my new quarters, meantime, any letters addressed C/o J. Sharpe, 29 Palace St., Ashfield, will find me.
With fond love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

Note: Transfer to A.A.M.C.

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(5th Letter)

Military Camp, Liverpool

Address. A.A.M.C. Field Hospital,
Liverpool.
25th November 1915.

No.2
Dearest Mother.
You will be pleased to hear that I am now settled in the A.A.M.C. my transfer having gone through satisfactorily yesterday.
On Tuesday last I was sent down to Liverpool in charge of a Corporal to be transferred in accordance with a notification received by our O.C. from Major Lawes. We left Casula at about 9 O'clock in the morning, and before going I bade a fond farewell to all my friends but by that night to their surprise I was back again in Casula. The Corporal sent with me was a real dunderhead and had omitted to bring my papers down with him. We spent the whole day tramping from one office to another in Liverpool Camp and finally had to return without accomplishing anything. On Wednesday I returned to Liverpool with another Corporal and between us we managed to fix things up satisfactorily and I was duly installed in my new quarters.
I sleep in a large tin hut with about thirty others. The huts are well ventilated and scrubbed out daily. The chief difference between this Cors and the infantry is the fact that here one's things are much safer and have not to be locked up whenever one leaves them. Also there is not the same brisk military air about things, and not half the work to be done.
All the high Officers, Captains &c. are doctors and they lack the briskness of the true Military man. At present I am on "General Duties" and for the last two days have been loading timber - six of us in all under the charge of the "Pioneer" Sergeant. It is very easy work compared to all day

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drill. All we do is load and unload the waggon and then ride on it for about four miles. It takes us all morning to bring one load. Later on I will get on to "Ward duties" - which consists of the care of the patients in the different wards in the Hospital.
This afternoon a youngster who sleeps next to me developed measles. This will probably mean that I will have to go into Contact camp for a fortnight. As a matter of fact there was another persons blankets between me and him but they have been away since I arrived so I suppose I will be collared. I made a rush for the hut and moved my bed a couple further off from the infected area as soon as I received the news but it appears that the Sergeant had already taken my name. Unfortunately I have scribbled it all over my baggage so he had no difficulty in securing it. I sneaked off early to write this letter to-night for fear the Sergeant would bail me up and march me off into contact.
A very nice young fellow named Gordon came into the A.A.M.C. on the same day as myself and we have become quite chummy. He was studying Engineering at the University. This is all I have succeeded in getting out of him after two days - dead slow aren't I ?
I was putting in an application for week-end leave but I don't suppose I will get it now. Possibly Stirling will be gone before I come out of contact but I don't think so.
We went for a route march yesterday afternoon. The whole of the Liverpool Camp, including the Light-horse and also Casula turned out. I suppose there were about thirty thousand of us in all. We only marched out about four miles and had tea on a nice grassy knoll. We marched back in the cool of the evening and arrived home at about eleven O'clock.
All leave was stopped for the day and while we were out the

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Military Police searched every corner of the city for deserters, men absent without leave, and chiefly men masquerading as returned Soldiers. They had over five hundred in the guard tent next morning and I believe about eighty of them were fake soldiers. It is a pity they don't have these general clearing -ups oftener and I believe they intend doing so in future. Liverpool is an immense camp as you will realise when I say that there are about Sixteen thousand soldiers in it. The main road through the camp is lined with small shops and there is also a large Billiard Saloon with 9 tables in it. The infantry camp is exceedingly dusty on a windy day but the A.A.M.C. is situated on a rise some distance off and escapes most of it.
Just opposite our hut the Applicants for the light horse go through their riding tests and we have many a good laugh at some of them. Part of the test consists of riding over three hurdles and numbers of the men come to grief on them. None of them seem to be any the worse for their falls and generally hop up and on again.
I suppose Douglas finds it hard to fill up his spare time. I trust his destructive tendencies are not breaking out. Has he heard the result of his Examination yet?
Have you received any word of or from Kevin?
With best love to you and father and all at home and next door.
Your loving son
Eugene.
I trust things are going satisfactorily despite Vesey's well meant efforts with the Type-writer. I would love to see him struggling with it.

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(6th letter)

*Read this aloud to the family and for mothers benefit stop where this mark, occurs if you think best, and resume again where it is repeated.

Military Camp Liverpool
Sunday 28th. November 1915

Dear Douglas/.
Your lengthy, witty, and interesting letter, came as a great surprise. The most I expected even in my most sanguine moments was one full page including a chart of the weather for the last few weeks. If you showed your letter to Kit it must have quite upset all her ideas of your capacity in that direction.
I am now transferred into the extremely dangerous, nerve-racking and glorious service of the A.A.M.C. Since my transfer I have been making rapid strides in the required direction and will soon be thoroughly fitted to attend to any of the numerous dreadful injuries which the soldiers receive in the firing line. I can now bind up a cut finger without fainting and extract small splinters, except out of myself, without even turning pale. At the rate I am progressing at present I can say with perfect confidence that I will reach the front and be in the thick of the fighting by 1920. Probably it won't be till December of that year, but then, why hurry on to slaughter? Even now I have spasms at the mere thought of reaching there so soon.
Since my transfer last Wednesday I have been employed in carting timber, stacking it in fancy heaps so as it will dry properly, and cutting some of it up, and also in picking up scraps. I shine in this latter capacity but have great predilection

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towards bottles, glass, and bones. I have been accused of overlooking the other scraps, and of trying to realise on the bones and bottles. Of course you know I would never think of doing such a thing. I have not mentioned my most arduous task here. It is killing time. For one thing it is too blood thirsty a job for me, and besides the only weapon I have is a chess-board. It is a very cute little thing about the size of a pocket-book, made of leather, with little celluloid chips for men, painted to represent the different pieces, which fit into slots in the leather.
Another hard job I have is to keep fit without doing anything. The A.A.M.C. are extremely short of any gymnastic appliances, and in despair I am afraid I will be driven in invest in those most murderous weapons - a pair of boxing gloves. In the infantry lines the men have medicine balls, footballs, gloves, and often toy rapiers or rather single sticks and guns with padded bayonets which slide in on a spring when anything is struck. Even these are only among the men who are leaving almost immediately, having been purchased to amuse them on the long voyage.
Medicine balls are the only ones which are anyway general. This is not very surprising in the Infantry as there one has no time to spare and is only too glad to rest in any spare moments. I hope to be attached to a Ward before long and I will then be able to tell you of the rapid recovery of the patients under my care.
We have a parson in our ward and we get a great deal of amusement out of him. He is a very serious individual and takes everything we say in that light. We start conversations about him when he is present and are always sure of a bite. We had him worked up into a great state the other day and he threatened to fight one of the most insulting of us. The culprit put on the gloves but by that time the parson had cooled down and

[Page 32]

(page 3)

said he would only fight with his bare fists and then only when in a bad temper. He is a rather slornley and unkempt looking individual and would not strike me as a very prepossessing parson.
I got a great scare the other day as a person sleeping near me got the measles and I was afraid I would have to go into contact camp. I managed to hear of it in time though and moved my bedding to a spare place further off and thus avoided being sent away.
Concert parties come out from town every night and regale us with a feast of music. Some of them are very good, others we don't deign to listen to.
I hope to get my uniform to-morrow and then I will feel as grand as the rest. All the A.A.M.C. are grand, in their own opinion at any rate.

* (Continue on page 4)
Occasionally the fellows here break loose and run amok over some grievance, imaginary of otherwise. Generally the former. There was a terrible shindy the other night over some grievance, real this time, which all the fellows had against the Military Police, otherwise known as the cold-footed brigade (since they will never be sent to the front). Many of the MP's are rotters who have spent their lives evading the Civil Police, and now that they have turned hounds themselves they take it out on the soldiers.
A large crowd or rather mob of infantry charged the main gate where the MP's were on guard and bombarded them with every available missile. A squad of Light horse, armed with batons, were turned out to assist the guards and charged down the road right through the centre of the mob, which had by this time assumed alarming dimensions. This only increased the ire of the men and they broke across a small bridge at which they had been held up and burned down the tents and all the belongings of the Military Police. The light horse charged several more times but the men had placed a barricade across the bridge, the only connecting link at this point, and thus kept them at bay.
All authority was set aside for the time being and the officers had absolutely no control over their men. The men were finally pacified by one of the majors

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page 4

who got up on the fence and addressed them amidst a shower of missiles. He eventually succeeded in calming them down, however, but only did so by undertaking to have a full inquiry into their cause of complaints and by there and then dismissing the Military Police from the guard and replacing them by one of the infantry Companies.
There were a few casualties in our wards as a result of the melee.
The chief trouble is that there is now unmitigated enmity between the Infantry and Light horse, and the former daren't venture within the latter's lines except in a body. There had been some slight feeling between the two bodies before this owing to some M.P. addressing a mixed body of the Soldiers as "Men of the Infantry and Gentlemen of the Light Horse. I watched the whole of the melee from a safe distance and it was a great entertainment. The trouble with the men is that they are kept in camp too long. Could they be got away earlier none of these disgraceful episodes would occur.
* I must close now as I have to write a letter to Mrs. Connor. She has been enquiring after me through Mrs. Sharpe and I promised to write and let her know my address.
Your loving brother,
Eugene.

P.S. Is the Sydney trip still in the wind or has it blown over.
I have not heard from home for some time but suppose the letters are held up at the different camps from which I have moved. I trust all are well. I received a letter from Vesey on Friday last and will manage to reply before long.
Any news of or from Kevin. By the way I met long Ebsworth the other day. He is also in the A.A.M.C. here.

[Page 34]

Military Camp, Liverpool.
2nd December 1915.

Dear Mother/
I received two letters from you this week both as full of news as usual. I am very sorry indeed to hear of Cecil Bentley's illness, especially in so serious a form.
Stirling's departure has now been deferred till the 13th. Instant. He came out to see me in his uniform last Sunday and he looks splendid in it. I have not receive mine yet and will not for another fortnight as I have to be in the A.A.M.C. a month before they will issue me with it. My old infantry contemporaries have received theirs.
I am now on duty in one of the wards. My shift is from 2 am. till 6 am, and during that period I have to remain in the Ward and attend to the needs of the patients, which are very few as most of them are sleeping soundly during those hours. There are no serious cases in our Ward. Before coming off in the morning I have to shake out the mats and sweep the place through. We change shifts every week and of course each shift has different duties to perform.
When I am relieved at 6 am. I then have the morning free and have not to attend any parades until 2 p.m. when the rolls are called and we have a lecture on first Aid or some stretcher drill till 4 p.m. We then have tea about 5 p.m. and I am free till 2 a.m.
There is also a roll call & instructional parade in the morning but I have not to attend that on account of having been on night duty.

[Page 35]

Ward Orderlies are allowed twenty-four hours a week off and also one week end in every two.
With regard to your trip to Sydney of course I will be delighted to see you. As to your bothering me in any way that would be impossible, Douglas must think I am having a gay time when he makes that suggestion. You evidently misinterpreted my letter. I merely wished to let you know that I could have very much time off to spend with you so that you would not be disappointed. As to my leaving here before Xmas there is not , at present, the slightest prospect of my doing so. I think the trip would do you all good.
My slender stock of news is now exhausted so I will conclude
With best love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

[Page 36]

(8th. letter)

Military Camp, Liverpool
Tuesday, 14th December 1915.
Address:- Pte. E Sullivan, F Ward, Field Hospital, Liverpool.

Dearest Mother/.
I did not manage to send a letter last week as I was on the evening shift in our Ward and had no spare time for anything. We had to attend parades all the morning and then went on Ward duty at two O'clock and remained on till ten at night. I succeeded in getting the week end and one night off and I spent them with Stirling.
On Wednesday night we had a picnic just outside the show ground where Stirling was quartered, on a large ornamental knoll which made an ideal ground for the purpose. There were five soldiers present, counting ourselves, and of course the whole Sharpe family and several young ladies. We had a most enjoyable time. Stacks of good thing provided by Mrs. Sharpe were soon demolished by our combined efforts but even then there was enough over for each of us to take back to camp a goodly sized package of delicacies.
On Saturday last Stirling and I had our photographs taken at the Crown Studios. We were taken both together and separate and will each receive one enlargement, half-a-dozen cabinets, and half a dozen post-cards, of each photograph (together & separate). Ask Douglas whether he thinks I will have enough of them or had I better order another two dozen?
As Stirling is leaving on Friday next I have been spending all my time off with him and consequently have not been to see any of the family for some time. I think I told you I took Sterling over to see Grandmother and

[Page 37]

Aunt Nell and from thence we went to "see" Polly and the girls. Grace Hilderbrand was at Poll's. This, of course, is ancient history.
Mrs. Connor, Eileen, and Gwen, came out to see me and brought a basket full of cakes &c, and we had tea down on the river bank. She sent me a letter saying she was coming out but unfortunately I did not receive it and had some trouble in getting away even for a short time as I was on duty. As it was I could only stay with them for about an hour. I was terribly disreputable too, in old white sandshoes, dungarees, none too clean, and worst of all an old felt civilian hat. Thank goodness I have now received my uniform. The leggings and coat are several sizes too large but they are far preferable to the dungarees, and as regards the tunic, it is so made that its excess in size is only noticeable round the neck.

A letter of yours (or from someone at home) which was received by the Sharpes and posted on to me went astray and neither it nor Mrs. Connor's letter have come to light, although it is now ten days since they were sent.
You stated in your last letter that you would probably leave for Sydney on the twenty-first. Let me know in your next letter how your arrangements are progressing and I may be able to fix things up here so as to meet you on your arrival.
We were all innoculated last Tuesday and again to-day. We have to be done three times in all with a week's interval between each. As I am feeling slightly off colour on account of it I will now close.
With best love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

P.S. Mrs. Connor says that everything she has sent to Egypt has been received by Murray so I think it would be quite safe to send anything to Kevin now that he is back at his old address.

[Page 38]

Telegram: Lismore 18 Dec. 1915
Liverpool Military Camp 15 pr 9 am
Sullivan Solicitor Lismore
Never Felt Better Expect You Thursday Will Call Strathbogie Ten Oclock
Eugene 10 14

[Page 39]

(9th)
Saturday 8th. Jany. '16
2.13 pm.

I will let you know what I think of the town later when I have had a look round. Things promise to be very quiet here. At present there are only 4 patients in hospital.
Eugene.

Dear Father & Mother:-
I am now safely settled in Armidale. We arrived here at 10.45 a.m. and as you may guess we were all glad to leave the train. We managed to make as much row as any of the other compartments on the train and generally behaved ourselves like school children during the night. As the carriage was rather packed I slept on the hat rack and I think I had the most comfortable bed of all whilst it lasted. At one of the points or crossings I was jolted down amongst my companions. I can tell you I was rather surprised to awake and find myself mixed up amongst a wriggling heap of arms and legs.
Afterwards we devised a better plan and packed the aisle with our kits &c and laid one of the cushions along the middle on top of them. We were then all able to lie straight across the carriage. I had a short doss near morning and awoke with a kit bag tied to each leg and another strung around my neck. Others had similar experiences.
Armidale is about the size of Ballina. There are only 600 in camp and six A.M.C. men counting or three selves including one sergeant and one Corporal. We are over 3½ thousand feet above sea level.

[Page 40]

Letter Card
Mr. A.M. Sullivan
"Strathbogie"
Wynyard Square
Sydney.
[ Note not decipherable.]

[Page 41]

(10)
Address: Pte. Eugene Sullivan
A.M.C.,
Armidale
Wednesday 26th January '16.

Dear Father and Mother/
I received father's letter a few days ago informing me of his safe arrival home and I have no doubt mother & Kathleen & Douglas have also returned by now. No doubt Lismore seems very quiet after the clang and bustle of the City.
Armidale is not unlike Lismore and is quite as quiet. There is a beaut
The R.C. Cathedral here is really beautiful. It would not be quite as big as ours but I think it is prettier. The altar is especially beautiful being made of dark wood richly chased and decorated with small figures representing angels on top and two larger figures at each side all exquisitely moulded and tinted. I will take a photograph of the Cathedral and send it to you so you may compare it with ours.

[Page 42]

The three principal churches, R.C.. C of E. & Presby. are all grouped together facing three sides of the one small park.

A New doctor arrived here to-night and in future two doctors are to be stationed here. I don't know how they will find enough work to employ themselves but of course the camp is growing daily, and they may both be needed before long.
To-day, being Anniversary Day, was observed as a holiday in the Camp and two picnics were arranged for the soldiers. I didn't attend either but stayed on duty as, not knowing any of the people, I wasn't anxious to go. There is a picture show in town and I went last Saturday and had the pleasure of seeing a couple of pictures which I had already seen in Sydney.
Under mother's recommendation of some time ago I purchased the "Vicar of Wakefield" and am now wadeing through it.

[Page 43]

Three members of the Army Pay Corps, in which Keith is, arrived here to-day. Two of
them are returned men and one a reject for active service. One of them knew Keith McDonald well and informed me that he was operated on at Garrison Hospital for his knee, and is now progressing favourably.
Would you please post me the R.E.P. book as it would be very useful to refer to on some occasions. I have an idea I had it in my port at Sharpe's. If you can't lay your hand on it don't bother, as it is not of much importance.
I omitted the £1 for photographs from my last letter and am enclosing it with this. There is a dearth of news here so I will now close with best love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

[Page 44]

A.M.C.
Military Camp.
Armidale Sunday

Dear Mother/As I have to-day off I am seizing the opportunity to scribble you a note enclosing Den's letter which I quite overlooked when last writing. We have such a crowd in hospital now that I am quite glad to escape from my patients for a while, and am writing this in the shade of a large gum tree on the summit of one of the neighbouring hills, whither I have fled to escape the incessant demands for attention of the patients. Of course someone is taking my place but so long as I am any where about those whom I was looking after still rely on me to attend to their requirements and I do not like to refuse to attend to a sick man just

[Page 45]

because I happen to be off duty.
The weather here is really delightful, not a bit hot, in fact the nights are rather on the cold side.
I received a letter from a Miss Barrie, the principal of some Girls College here, requesting me to let her know whether I could call & see her on a certain day next week, and saying she knew the family well although she had not yet met me. Probably she is the Principal of the school at which Mrs. Cope teaches. I have not the letter here but if I come across it before posting this I will add the name of the School.
I have just come across an old letter of mine to Vesey which I stowed away in my writing pad and omitted to post. As it is some months since I received his letter he must be disgusted at not

[Page 46]

receiving any reply. I have not much more time to spare so I will close now & endeavour to scribble a few lines to him.
Have you received any further news from Kevin. I have not seen a paper since I came to Armidale so I know very little about the arrival of sick. It is a standard joke with us here if anyone asks about the war to reply "Is there a War?"
I trust he will be home soon and I have no doubt that with the assistance of Lismore's wonderful climate and the comforts of home life he will speedily recuperate and regain his former good health. Egypt's climate must be very trying when one puts in any length of time there.
With love to all from
Your loving son
Eugene

[Page 47]

Thursday 3rd. Feby 1915 (16)

Dear father,
I was surprised to receive your letter stating that you had not heard from me for some time but when I considered the matter I found out that you were quite right. You have no idea how time flies here especially when we have the Hospital full. We are not overworked but still we are kept jogging along from one thing to another and before we have time to realise it another week has flown past. In future I will make a practice of writing on the same day each week and then I can't be far out.
I am sorry to hear of Sam Hall's dishonesty especially at Squash's expense. By the way how is the latter

[Page 48]

getting on now and what is he doing. Has he set up as an accountant or is he still in the insurance line?
I received the R.E.P. Book safely and must thank you for forwarding it so promptly. Letters take a much shorter time going from here than from Sydney. I hardly thought you had received my letter when the book arrived.
I also received your wire to-day about Willie, & Mrs. MacDermott. They both, together with Mary & Dermaid, call on me at the Camp on Monday last. I was very surprised to see them here and was in much the same state as when you called at Liverpool but dinner was just over and not just beginning.
I was informed by one of the men, last week, that some people who knew my people were anxious to see me.

[Page 49]

They all came out to the camp last Sunday but I missed them for which I was extremely grateful. It appears their name is Aitkins and they keep one of the Pubs here.
I have a few more photographs which I print at the first opportunity and send on to you. It is very hard to get photography supplies because some of the component parts of most of the articles required come under the heading of explosives, and their export from England is forbidden.
I can only get the poorest paper to print them on and have to tone it myself.
Another Doctor arrived to-day in place of Dr. Quessy who is leaving for Liverpool. Dr. Hogg is now in charge and Dr. (Rosenthall?) is the other Medico.
The camp here is growing very rapidly and of course with its growth the number

[Page 50]

of sick increases very considerably.
We had a great fight to be put on the same footing as the private who was here when we arrived (A. Bolton by name). He wished to be regarded as a senior private and as such get out of all the disagreeable jobs and attend to the dispensary and other interesting work all the time. The Sergeant and he were as thick as thieves and the former was inclined to side with him. The Corporal however is very fair and with his assistance and by laying our three heads together we managed to be all just on the same footing.
We have now arranged it so that each man takes charge of two wards and is solely responsible for them and we change wards every week. During this week, the first under the new System, I am on the dispensary and kitchen.

[Page 51]

They are by far the most interesting but also the hardest wards to look after.
The new doctors are both young men and seem very fresh and bent on making reforms many of which are badly needed. They both went through the Dispensary this afternoon and ordered a great number of new medicines and surgical apparatus. Soon we will need to be qualified chemists to remember all the different medicines and their exact properties. I will take a photograph of it when it has been restocked.
We recently cut a doorway from the dispensary to the kitchen and it is proposed to use the latter as a surgery for minor operations.
We get all kinds and conditions of patients into the hospital and we extract a good deal of fun out of some of them. English (commonly known

[Page 52]

as Ossie) has a Darkie in his ward at present and he takes a delight in feeding him up like a fighting cock. Then he sings songs about "Oh Darkies lead a happy life, playing on the Old banjo &c." and cracks jokes at his expense. I was surprised to see the darkie reading yesterday and latter on he flabbergasted me by enquiring the number of a particularly pretty record which was being played on the gramaphone (Tosti's Goodbye).
I haven't to feed any of the patients, it being my week on the dispensary & kitchen so I can sit down and enjoy my meal while the others are scrambling round attending to them.
Now that each man attends to separate Wards there is great rivalry as to which will keep his the best. One of them has gone to the length of cutting boughs

[Page 53]

from the neighbouring trees and tying them up in his ward. He has also draped portion of the walls, which are only weather board, with Red Cross Quilts (An ordinary sheet with a large Red Cross in the middle) and similarly clothed two small casks and uses them for seats. A Glance into either of his Wards, which are only twelve by fifteen, reminds one of a secret society den. If the Red Cross was a Red Hand the illusion would be complete. We have named the Orderly who attends these wards Lovelace on account of his fondness for the fair sex. His name is Lawless.
I will wind this up now as I can hear one of the patients making a noise as if his bed had given way. A by no means unusual occurrence as the canvas stretchers supplied to us are exceedingly frail.

[Page 54]
am perfectly well and happy and trust all at home are the same.
Give my love to Kate and Vesey.
Your loving Son
Eugene

[Page 55]

(12th)
Sunday, 20th. February 1915 [16]

Dear Mother/.
The mumps epidemic has now abated and we haven't half as much work, as another eight men and a Corporal have been sent up from Liverpool. Our largest number in the Mumps Compound was forty and now there are only eighteen, but we also have a full complement in the ordinary hospital. The new arrivals from Liverpool are a very decent stamp of young men and one of them has his B.A. degree. The hospital has undergone a considerable straightening up and we now have proper beds and new bedsteads in the Wards in place of the former stretchers, which latter were extremely rickety. Several other badly needed improvements, more especially, about the kitchen, have been made.
A small pup roamed into our tent during the week and we have adopted it as a Mascot. We made it a suit out of the leg of a pair of khaki pants and also a little military cap and it looks very nice in full uniform.
I received your letter, also Life and the Lone Hand and a couple of Local and a Sydney paper all of which were very welcome. I also received a paper from Aunt Kate and would be glad if you would thank her for me. I have been quite overwhelmed by this great influx of literature and as a result have not had time to read more than a few stories from the Lone Hand and glance through the papers.
You need not bother sending any more Sydney papers except in special cases as I can procure them locally the trouble being to find the time to do so.
On account of the disturbances at Liverpool the Military are starting to depopulate the Camp and 500 men are being sent up here. We could very well do without them but, of course, we are not given a choice in the matter. Like their impertinence isn't it? I am enclosing a photo taken with my V.P.K. of myself on an old horse, a great pet, which hangs around the hospital. The bridle is a real work of Art but this horse is so quiet that one can ride it without any bridle at all. With love to all at home and next door.
Eugene.

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[Page 56]

(13)
Thursday 2nd. March 1915 (16!)

Dear Father & Mother/.
Has Kevin arrived home yet? I noticed his name in the paper amongst those who returned but unfortunately I did not get the paper till some days after or I could have met him on Armidale Station as he went through to Brisbane. I received father's letter giving his address in Brisbane and I intended to send him a telegram on his birthday but I was on duty myself and could not get anyone to send it.
The hospital is still full of mumps cases and to make matters worse measles has also broken out in the camp. There are now eighty three in hospital of whom about forty are suffering from mumps, thirty from measles, and the remainder are colds &c.
I have been on night duty all this week and as there are only two of us to attend to all the patients we are kept pretty busy hence my delay in writing.
I had last Saturday and Sunday off and seven of us went up to Tamworth. It is about 60 miles by rail from here. The train left here at 7 O'clock in the evening and we arrived there at 10.30 pm. We then set about finding lodgings for the night and after trying several pubs whose prices staggered us we at length put up at the Commercial Hotel, our beds and three meals on Sunday to cost each of us 5/6d.
Myself and a namesake of our friends Miss Wagner named Ted

[Page 57]

slept in one room and I can tell you we had a lively night of it. It was evidently a Gala day with the vermin and a battalion of bugs set out on a route march across our pillows. As a consequence we had to sleep on the floor in our overcoats only. We couldn't trust any of the bed clothes. Another member of the party had portion of the Red Cross on his sleeve gnawed off by rats during the night.
We took a long walk round the town and out to the hospital, which is some distance from the town, on Sunday in company of one of the residents who pointed out the beauties of the place and filled us with the history of the flood. The town itself is very pretty, most of the buildings being of brick. The streets are lined with trees, mostly pepper trimmed down, and looked very pretty as they stretch along for a great distance without a bend. The main street must be a mile long. Except in this last particular it reminded me of Lismore, only on a much larger scale, as it is walled in on all sides by hills, almost aspiring to the dignity of mountains, and the climate is hot and very moist.
The Peel River, merely a chain of waterholes, runs alongside of the main street in much the same position as the Richmond is to Molesworth Street. The soil is exceedingly rich, consisting of the loam washed down from the surrounding hills, and wheat, lucerne and tobacco are largely cultivated, the last named by a Colony of Chows. There is also a large brewery in the town.

[Page 58]

The Church and Convent are very pretty and were situated right opposite our hotel.
We caught the 2 a.m. train back to Armidale on Sunday night and arrived here at 6 a.m. very tired by well satisfied with our holiday. The train travelling did not cost us anything so our trip wasn't a very expensive one.
I am enclosing a few more photographs which will probably be of interest to you. I am not sure whether I have not already sent you some of them.
As tea has just begun and I go on duty immediately afterwards I must now close. Excuse scrawl. With best love to all at home and next door
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 59]

New England Soldiers' Club.
A.M.C. Military Camp,
Armidale.
Sunday, 12th March 1915 [16]

Dear Father & Mother/.
As you will see by the heading a Military Club has now been formed at Armidale, and I am taking advantage of the seclusion afforded by the writing room to write this letter.
It was only opened yesterday and the membership fee is 1/- per month. It consists of a very fine room packed with small tables for reading and games, (books, dominoes, draughts, &c. being procurable on the premises) and another smaller room for writing.

We have been kept as busy as possible at the Hospital. The number of mumps cases is gradually dwindling but measles are coming in daily. There are still about 80 in hospital only twelve of whom are general cases i.e. other than mumps and measles. Three of our own men are in bed, one with mumps, one with measles, and one with influenza.
On account of the large proportion of sick, the P.M.O. Major Lawes, paid a flying visit to the Camp last Tuesday. As the Tenth Field Ambulance was picked recently and none of our names included, we all paraded before him to enquire the reason for their omission as many of us have been in camp longer than some of those who were selected for it.

[Page 60]

He could give us no satisfaction but promised to enquire into the matter on his return to Headquarters. Personally I applied to be attached to the Battalion with the Regimental Detail. In my opinion it is a much preferable position than in a Field Ambulance. He treated my request the same as the other and promised to let me know later through our C.O.
It is rumoured that the Battalion will leave here during the week, part going on Tuesday and the remainder following later. They are going to Maitland to join the Division. I very much doubt the truth of this as I regard it as unlikely that the Battalion would be moved when there are so many in hospital.
We had our first death in the hospital on Friday morning. The patient, a young chap named McKinnon, was admitted suffering with measles and he subsequently developed bronchial pneumonia. We generally send bad patients to the local hospital but this young fellow took bad so suddenly that it was dangerous to remove him by the time his case assumed a serious nature.
Myself and two others as well as the doctor were with him all night but despite all our efforts he died at 8 O'clock in the morning. He was unconscious all night and never regained consciousness, passing off very quietly.

[Page 61]

At 6 O'clock on Thursday evening he was feeling well, shortly after he became unconscious, and at 8 next morning he was dead.
Three nurses arrived to-day from Liverpool. One of them was at a base Hospital in France.
I went out to the N.E. Girls' School this afternoon with a Sergeant Merrick of the Army Service Corps and saw Mrs. Cope, & Miss McKenzie. I knew the latter immediately from having seen her bulky form over the fence when she was staying with Mrs. Barrie. Mrs. Cope had not changed an atom. She tells me that both the Clayton boys have returned not much the worse for wear.
I was marching at young McKinnon's funeral yesterday, when to my intense surprise, I saw Osborne, formerly of the Land's Office making towards the Golf links with a bundle of Clubs. Despite the solemnity of the occasion I waved to him as we passed but he only returned a blank stare, evidently not recognizing me in khaki. I have also the exceedingly great pleasure of meeting another old friend of the families. A Mr. Murray by name, who is studying for a Solicitor. He visited the camp repeatedly in search of me and succeeded in locating me last week. He discovered me in my tent sleeping after having been on night duty and after digging me out he informed me that he was a relative of the families and wanted me to visit his people right away. I remember him visiting "Heatherbrae" years ago during my sojourn there and Dan, who held him in great contempt, induced him to put on the gloves with him and bled his nose. He called him Murray, the Leech, and I know now that he was

[Page 62]

very well named. He has been a shadow to me ever since he discovered me and has given me no peace but wants me to visit their home. I have arranged to do so several times but have failed to keep the appointments sometimes through accident but more often by design. He is a most peculiar individual and is impossible to shake off.
It appears that he has just passed his intermediate. He was armed with a paper containing the results when he first visited me. He came last on the list but was very elated at passing. Let me know whether you know anything of him and whether I must submit to his approaches.
I received a note from Dr. Graham informing me he knew Dr. Rosenthal. I will reply to it at the first available opportunity. Dr. Rosenthal is the Medical Officer attached to this Battalion and is to go to the front with it, but is the Junior Medical Officer in the Camp at present. Capt. Hogg (Dr.) being the Senior Medical Officer. A Dr. Paten is also stationed here at present but he is merely awaiting orders to attend at certain recruiting centres.
So Kevin is back home again at last. You must be overjoyed to see him again. I was hoping to be able to run home from here for a week-end. I would have to get a couple of extra days leave but when we have coped with the present epidemic I may be able to manage it.

[Page 63]

Thank Douglas for his long and interesting letter and tell him I will endeavour to reply in kind at the earliest opportunity.
I have a few more photographs but as I am anxious to post this to-night will enclose them with my next letter.
With love to all at home and next door.
Eugene.

[Page 64]

A.M.C.
Rutherford Camp
East Maitland.
Thursday 30 March 1916

Dear father & mother/.
I have been kept extremely busy so that I haven't had any opportunity to drop you a line.
Myself and another orderly were transferred to our present quarters about three weeks ago. On our arrival we found that there was an outbreak of Mumps & Measles in the Camp and about forty patients in the Hospital with no one to look after them except a detail of men from the lines. We had to buckle to right there and then and try and create some order in the hospital and have been going like steam engines ever since.
Ten more men have now been sent up from Liverpool but most of them have had no experience whatever having come straight from the infantry and are worse than useless.
Unfortunately another man died on our hands. He had measles and subsequently contracted septic pneumonia.
We now have 104 men in Hospital and as we have very few conveniences and have to carry our own water a distance of about ½ a mile you may judge of how busy we are.
I will write you further shortly.
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 65]

A.M.C.
33rd Battalion,
Field Hospital,
Rutherford Camp.
West Maitland.
9th. April 1916.

Dear Father and Mother/.
Mumps and Measles are still raging amongst the Battalion. The number of Measles admissions has considerably diminished but Mumps are as strong as ever. Rumour says that the Battalion is to sail in May but under the circumstances I fail to see how the men can get away.
I have applied to accompany the Battalion but have, as yet, received no notification of my request having been granted. Captn. Rosenthal, the Medical Officer appointed to accompany the Battalion is very anxious that myself and a fellow Orderly F.D. Clarke should go with him but he is too slow to have our appointment confirmed.
I received mother's two last letters, one enclosing a photo of Kevin, during the week.
I intend applying for special leave this week

[Page 66]

end and will wire you if I succeed in procuring it. I could only secure a day at home but if necessary could take more.
Myself, Clarke & Ellis are the only experienced men here out of a staff of fifteen and that is one of the reasons why I am kept so busy. One certainly gains a fine experience in these country centres as one has every kind of case to deal with and not merely one particular section as in a larger Hospital.
A Major has been sent up to take charge here now and I have been acting as his clerk during the past week but I have had enough of it already and am arranging to get back on to the Ward work next week. As Clarke had been in the A.M.C. longer than I had he has been made acting Corporal but the pair of us run the hospital between us, as I can choose whichever work I prefer.

I can't think of any more news now so I will say au revoir till Sunday next I hope.
Eugene.

[Page 67]

A.M.C.
33rd. Battalion,
Rutherford Camp, West Maitland.

Dear Father & Mother/.
As you suggested it would be much better if I secured home leave when Kevin & Douglas would be there. This was my week-end off so I thought I might secure an extra day to go home, but as it would be a long and expensive trip I will now wait till I can secure longer leave. I took a flying trip down to Sydney for the week-end but had not any time to look up the various relatives. I stayed with Jack Warne with whom I went down.
The trip down only costs 3/6 on a special week-end ticket issued to Soldiers. Along with four other men I have been selected to accompany this Battalion as the Regimental Detail. The Battalion is to leave in May probably about the 6th. There are much fewer in hospital now and we are having an easy time. I don't think there are more than forty patients in hospital and most of them are convalescent.
The Red Cross Society have supplied us with a large tent for recreational purposes and numbers of deck chairs and camp stools magazines novels and games, draughts, ludo, dominoes & wire puzzles. Besides this tent there are five large Marquees and a Tortoise Tent, each of which hold fourteen beds, and four square Mountain Battery tents and one Bell tent. These comprise the hospital including our

[Page 68]

quarters which are in two of the Mountain Battery tents.
The camp is situated right in the country three miles from West Maitland and we amuse ourselves by felling the trees in the neighbourhood.
Major Kerr is now in charge of the Hospital. He is a very fussy old gent and causes us great annoyance by hopping out of his tent all hours and poking round to see that his numerous orders are being complied with. The patients have dubbed him Daddy Xmas. He is a very good doctor and despite the fact that he is a mere wisp of man and must be about 70 years old he is most energetic.
I paid a visit to Newcastle the Friday before last. I wasn't much impressed with its appearance but could not judge very well at night and with only a few hours in which to look round. The old steam trains which are also at Maitland look very up-to-date. I think Armidale although much smaller is brighter and livelier than either Newcastle or Maitland. I have quite a number of photographs taken but not yet developed. I hope to be able to send some by my next letter. I will, in all probability be home on final leave the week after next.
I have now more news now so I will close, with best love to all
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 69]

Note: 7th Field Ambulance.

Afloat on the Briny.

My Dear Parents/.
We have been steaming steadily onward since leaving Sydney and will soon have said Good-bye to Australia for some time. This is our last opportunity of posting any letters here, so I suppose it will be some considerable time before you hear from me again.
Our brilliant Battalion have kept up to their reputation when on shore as far as sickness is concerned and we have been kept fairly busy. Our detail of five have had to receive assistance from the Re-inforcements to the 7th. Field Ambulance who are on board. The Hospital is well fitted up and we have every convenience, plenty of supplies & hot water laid on &c., - a big improvement on conditions at Maitland. We can accomodate thirty patients in the Hospital proper and half a dozen in the Isolation Ward.
We were unfortunate enough to very fairly rough weather on our first day out and most of us were more or less sea-sick. I was wishing the ship would sink for the first two days but am



[Page 70]

now pretty well seasoned. I still feel very heady but I have no doubt that will wear off in a couple more days.
I had no time to visit Grandmother or any of my other Sydney relatives as we only spent the one night there and I was then on duty attending to a few men who were inconsiderate enough to get ill on the journey down from Maitland.
We left Maitland at 8 a.m. one morning and arrived in Sydney at 2 p.m. having had lunch on the journey. We were then marched straight from the Station to Hyde Park to be reviewed. It was more like a rabble than a march of trained men as the crowd broke through the ranks and women and girls were hanging on to the arms of nearly every soldier.
A crowd of people congregated at the Gate of the Show Ground, where we were camped for the night, and as we passed through they called out the name of the soldier they wanted to see and as soon as he replied they would rush through the ranks and seize hold of him, despite the remonstrances of the Officers. This procedure was necessary as it was impossible to distinguish anyone amongst such a crowd. It was the same right down

[Page 71]

to the wharf where an immense crowd congregated.
We pulled out from the wharf at about 6 a.m. and lay out in mid-stream. Numbers of launches came out and steamed round and round all day until we left.
Of course we are under strict Censorship now and I am not allowed to give any information as to our whereabouts but as soon as we reach some definite address I will let you know if possible. In the meantime I am puzzled what address to give and but will make inquiries and add to the foot of this letter. Anyhow, even if it is sometime before you hear from me again you will know I am in the best of health and thoroughly enjoying the trip.
Give my love to Aunt Kate and Uncle Vesey.
Excuse the scrawl, it is partly the result of a choppy sea and a jumpy head and partly from an extra soft pencil. When I have completely recovered from Mal-de-mer I will endeavour to write you a longer and more presentable epistle.
I have not managed to write to the various donors of socks &c. but will endeavour to do so during the remainder of the voyage.
Your loving son
Eugene.

Pte. Eugene Sullivan
No. 1515, On Active Service,
A.M.C.
33rd. Battalion
Intermediate Base, Egypt.

[Page 72]

Saturday. At Sea.

My Dear Parents/.
We are still on the briny and a days sail from our last Port of call where we spent two days.
We arrived at lunch time of Wednesday and left again on Friday morning. We were given half a day's leave on shore and I enjoyed myself immensely. The town is very pretty indeed - in fact I don't think our beautiful Sydney comes anywhere near it for picturesqueness although it is only half the size of Sydney. The most amusing sight to me was the natives. The town is overflowing with natives of all kinds, and dressed in the most fantastic costumes.
The vessel was coaled by blacks. They were clothed in draperies made of old bags. It was hard to tell what they had on but they were certainly well covered from head to foot in old bags and scraps of rubbish. Two planks are laid from the ship to the shore and they run up one of these and down the other, each carrying a basket of coal on his head which they dump down a chute on the vessel. Their head and shoulders are protected with bags. They swarm up and down these planks in a constant stream making the most weird noises all

[Page 73]

the time and never ceasing for breath the whole night long. They remind one of a swarm of bees. They are certainly most industrious workers and I believe they get next to nothing for it - about £2:10/- a month is their wage.
Another item of interest was the rickshaws. The natives who pull them are a fine looking race. They are all Zulus and of splendid physique. Most of them have a head-dress of horns or feathers and are all otherwise decked out in the most gaudy fashion, with ribands and necklaces of all shapes and colours. I have taken a few snapshots of them which I will enclose. They all look very clean and neat and their black skins shine like satin. They are all licensed like our cabs and have stands where they wait for fares. It is very amusing to wait opposite one of the stands for a while. They all vie with each other in attention attracting attention to their particular rickshaw and jump & spring about to show how strong and agile they are and how well they can run and pull, all the while nodding and grinning.
In fact if you even only glance at one he nods vigorously. They all seem very good humoured and happy. Most of them speak English quite fluently. Of course I had a ride in a rickshaw and together with two others and most of the time we were

[Page 74]

commenting loudly on the merits and demerits of our needy horse, never imagining that he could speak a word of English. Judge of our surprise on alighting to find that he spoke it quite fluently especially when pressing for an exorbitant fare.Three of us nearly killed one poor chap whom we made labour up a steep grade with our combined weight of about 33 stone.
The native police, who are also Zulus, have the same splendid physique as the Rickshaw men. Of course none of the natives wear shoes or socks and are bare to the knee. The police wear short black knickers and coats and small forage caps which do not pretend to fit them but which are held on the side of their black wooly heads by a chin strap. They are armed with waddies, like knobbed walking sticks, and wear a pair of handcuffs at their belt.
Most white men seem to have their black boys and in all the business establishments there are coloured attendants. In the big hotels they are dressed in livery - those I saw in white with a red sash - and look very picturesque. These blacks are miles above the Australian Aboriginal. They do not endeavour to ape the white man but are content with their own native customs and I am told only remain in town for a month on end when they return to their native kraals in the Country. The black police, I am told, cannot

[Page 75]

arrest a white man who is guilty of wrongdoing but must shadow him until they meet a white Policeman, who then does the arresting if he thinks fit. Although I have said so much about the Zulus you must not suppose that they are the only race here although they are the predominant one. There are crowds of other natives of all kinds even down to [indecipherable] of the Lismore type. The town is beautifully clean and neat.
William Symington, Jack Warne and I went ashore together at 9 O'clock in the morning. We first of all went hunting in the nearest booksellers for views and I posted a couple of books which I trust you have received safely.
We then took a tram, for all the world like a bus on rails with top and bottom storey, - and rode to the Post Office. All the trams are free to Soldiers. We then had a poke round the town and had a decent cup of tea at one of the restaurants. The tea on board is vile so I can tell you we appreciated our cup ashore. While strolling along a lady stopped us and invited us to come out to her orchard. As we hadn't seen fruit for months we accepted with alacrity. About a dozen in all accompanied us and after a short tram ride we arrived at her home. There were only about four orange trees and two mandarins and one lemon tree, but they were all loaded with fruit. After gorging ourselves we filled a couple of

[Page 76]

pillow cases and brought them on board for the patients. When we came aboard we found them already well supplied. All who could possibly manage it had been out on deck and the people on the wharf threw them oranges and mandarins. The mumps, who are quartered on deck, had secured a fishing line and sugar bag and they would throw the latter on the wharf and the people would fill it for them with fruit and cigarettes. They got several good hauls in this way. Others adopted the idea afterwards and using their puttees and lines they affixed line & bags of all kinds on the end and any would-be gift-giver who approached the stern of the boat where the hospital is was greeted with a hail of these missiles while the excited mumpy holding on to the other end of the line endeavoured to convince him that he was the most deserving patient.
I was fortunate enough to get ashore again in the afternoon and myself Warne, Symington and myself went on a tram ride round the Berea. It is a very pretty ride. The tram circles right round the town on the heights behind it and returns to the starting point, thus completing the circle. Afterwards we visited the beach and the Marine Parade. the beach is in Just inshore from the beach and running

[Page 77]

paralell parallel to it is a large lagoon. This is divided into two and one end is very deep and used as baths while the other end is used for a paddling pool for youngsters and is very shallow. The band rotunda is in the middle of the latter, and all along the edge are small shelters which add greatly to its appearance.
There are several fine hotels just up from and overlooking the beach with splendid grass slopes in front running right down to within thirty yards of the sea. In fact all along are nice green grass slopes and garden plots looking very different to the usual dry sandy sea shore.
We also paid a visit to the Zoo and it was well worth seeing. Everything there, as everywhere else, was very neat and clean and a black attendant accompanied us round and explained everything of interest.
They have a really splendid specimen of a tiger. I endeavoured to take a photograph of him but as the light was poor it was not very successful. I will post several photos with my next letter. Another animal which interested me greatly was a really fine seal. I was just about to photograph him sitting up on his flippers when he got bashful and dived back into his pool and refused to be enticed out of it again. I was more successful with the Polar Bear as the

[Page 78]

attendant held up a lettuce and I snapped Bruin standing on his hind feet reaching out for it.
Another animal which cannot be seen in Sydney Zoo was a Zebra. It was nothing wonderful to look at just like a striped donkey but slightly larger. I was reminded of home when we came across several specimens of Kangaroos, very small ones, and Wallabies.
After a hurried run through the Zoo we had to hurry back to the boat. We left early next morning.
We are all getting heartily sick of the boat and long to be on dry land. It will give you some idea of how long we have been on the water when I tell you that it is now fourteen days since my birthday. Our We should touch at another port The journey between the last port of call and the one at which we expect to touch next is about occupies about the same time as it would take you to visit grandmother.
I am posting with this letter a packet of snapshots taken at Fremantle some time ago. I will also post on the negatives and as Douglas might like to print more of some of them.
Of course I haven't received any of your letters and am not likely to until we settle down definitely at

[Page 79]

some place. Of course we are not told whither we are going and if we were I could not tell you. Still we all have a pretty good idea and I don't think I am far wrong when I say that I will probably be able to visit some of father's people when we arrive at our destination.
I have sent some cards and letters at each port of call and trust you have received them safely.
I am in perfect health and have not had a day's illness since leaving Sydney.
We encountered a lot of whalers after leaving port yesterday but did not sight any whales.
I would like to write to the Sharpes but have not their address. I searched through all my books but cannot find it.
As letters must be in by to-night I must now close with best love to all.
Your loving son
Eugene.

Address:-
No.1515
Pte. Eugene Sullivan
A.M.C.
Head Quarter's Staff,
33 Battalion, 9th Brigade, A.I.F.
Abroad.

[Page 80]

No. 1515
Pte. Eugene Sullivan
A.M.C.
Head Quarters Staff,
33 Battalion, 9th Brigade, A.I.F.
Abroad.

May 1916.
My dear Parents,
We are still afloat on the mighty deep and bowling along merrily over the sea. All on board have got their sea-legs by now and, amongst our five at any rate, are getting fat and thriving on the trip.
The sea is beautifully calm at present and we all sleep on deck where we sling our hammocks. There is generally a battle royal to see who will stay on the longest before we finally retire to ourselves to sleep, but as we are only a foot off the deck none gets any bruises. One of the Orderlies, Charles Ellis, the big chap whom I mentioned to you as having such a splendid physique, has been laid up

[Page 81]

in the bed for the last week suffering from an Abcess in the ego. He suffers dreadfully at times and can get no sleep at nights, but marches about the Hospital almost crazy with pain. The only thing which gives him any sleep is the injection of morphia and of course this does nothing towards curing the evil - and it would not do to repeat it too often. We have tried every possible means to relieve him but will no avail. Until the Abcess breaks he will have to bear the attacks.
As usual the hospital is full, most of the cases, however, are merely influenza. We also have a few cases of Mumps, the aftermath of the epidemic at West Maitland. When we call at a port we get rid of our worst cases and send them in to a Hospital on shore. Half a dozen have been put ashore already and we will have another half dozen at the next port.
A Concert is held on board nearly every night now. The band plays a few tunes and the blanks are filled in by songs or recitations by some of the men.
The last few nights have been devoted to a boxing tournament which is now drawing near its completion. You will be glad to hear that I did not take any part in it. Had I wished to I couldn't have entered as our hours vary so much from those of the Infantry that we are just

[Page 82]

commencing our tea when the fray is at its summit half over.
This is a dreadful battalion for sickness. At least half of the men in it have been in hospital at some time or other during their military career. Nevertheless there are not many malingerers in it but we came across one of the real things yesterday.
This particular specimen visited the Hospital a few days previous to our touching at the last port and informed the doctor that he was spitting up blood, and had only one lung, having been so informed by his mother when he was a child, and that it was utterly impossible for him to drill. He also by way of strengthening his case, informed the doctor that his sister had died from a similar complaint to that from which he was suffering. The doctor tested him thoroughly and found absolutely nothing the matter and as he was the picture of health sent him back to drill.
This same individual visited us again yesterday bringing with him a bottle of bood which he professed to have coughed up. As this was quite clear and of a dark red colour altogether different to the bright and frothy blood mixed with sputum which would come from the lungs, the doctor was very sceptical was satisfied that it came from his gums only, but to give him every chance to be admitted to hospital under close observation.
He was plainly ill at ease in bed and not in the least sick as he kept turning and twisting about and

[Page 83]

inquiring when his meals would arrive. He got a great shock, when, in accordance with the diet for his supposed complaint, he only got milk.
We gave him a special glass to spit in so as to catch all the blood. He made valiant efforts during the morning to extract some tinge of blood from himself by rubbing and pulling at his nose, when he was detected in this he subsequently managed somehow to spit up a little blood. On inquiry we found that some of the men had seen him digging at his gums with a wooden match. When taxed with this he absolutely denied it and swore black and blue that it had come from his lungs.
Three of us thought we would scare the truth out of him so that afternoon we donned operating gowns and looking as serious as possible we marched up to him carrying a tray of instruments and bowls of disinfectant &c. and commenced to straighten up his bed and then cleaned up his side with disinfectant methelated spirits. We told him we intended to insert a probe in his side to test whether his lung was there or not. After making all these preparations we informed him it was too rough to operate that afternoon. He did not appear much frightened but that night he confessed the whole matter to the doctor, admitting that he had dug at his gums until they bled. Thank goodness we have no more specimens like him.

[Page 84]

Quite a number of the Red Cross goods we are using in the Hospital come from Lismore. Towels, pyjama, sheet, pillow slips and cushions and a number of writing tablets. Most of the pyjamas and the writing tablets have small slips pinned to them wishing the soldier luck who receives them a speedy recovery and requesting him to write to a given address. Quite a This is how I know they are from Lismore & District.
They put large canvas baths on the deck at each side a few days ago. They are about 18 feet long by 8 feet broad. The men have great fun in them. I would like to tell you our whereabouts but as this is forbidden and as I have exhausted by stock of permissible news I will draw this scrawl to a close.
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 85]

No. 1515 A.M.C. Detail,
33rd. Batt. 9th. Bge. 3rd. Division, A.I.F.
No.2 Camp, Larkhill, Camp
Salisbury Plains, England.

12th. July, 1916.

Dear Father & Mother/.
You must be very surprised at not having any news from me for so long. We have only just arrived at our destination Salisbury Plains, after 10 weeks on the sea. This constitutes if not quite a record trip for a transport from Australia. We left Sydney on the 3rd May or thereabouts and arrived at Devonport on the 10th July.
After leaving Sydney our first port of call was Albany, where, unfortunately we were not permitted to disembark. From there we set steam for Columbo on route for Egypt via the Suez. When four days out from Albany we received a wireless from Cocos Island ordering us to go round the Cape of Good Hope, and to return to Fremantle if we required more coal for the trip to Cape Town. We accordingly returned to Fremantle and this time were fortunate enough to secure shore leave. I sent some Post Cards from there but possibly they were destroyed by the Censor. There is nothing particularly attractive

[Page 86]

Notes: Durban; Transport "Marathon"; Rickshaw natives.

about the town but my word we were glad to get off the boat for a while. We took a run down to Perth by train, and had about an hour there. It is a large town - almost as large as Sydney. As we only had four hours on shore we could not spend much time looking round. The trains amused us a lot. They were very small and slow and bumped and rattled dreadfully.
Our next Port of call was Durban in Natal. This is where we had the best time of all the trip. We were allowed ashore for half a day and had a great time. The "Marathon" was coaled by blacks natives. The most energetic workers I have seen. They run up and down planks leading to the hold with baskets of coal upon their heads. They make the most extraordinary noises all the while. They work all night with only one spell. Their pay is very small the amount I don't exactly remember. The chief interest to us were the Jimrickshaw.
The natives pulling them were done up most gorgeously with a headdress of Horns gaily decorated and most gaudy Tunics. You bet we had several rides in them although they generally charged us exorbitant fares, easily recognising good marks in the Soldiers. I took some snaps of them but unfortunately none of them turned out very well.
I posted some photographs from Capetown which I hope you received. The Durban people were exceedingly kind to us. As soon as we arrived in the town a lady accosted a party of us and invited us to come on to her orchard. Our party of about twenty eagerly accepted the invitation. The orchard consisted of half a dozen orange, and as many mandarin and lemon trees. After gorging ourselves with these we filled some pillowslips with oranges and brought them on board for the patients.

[Page 87]

In the Afternoon we visited the Zoo. It is much prettier and cleaner than the Sydney Zoo and they have some very fine specimens of animals. Their Seal, Polar Bear and Tiger are particularly fine specimens. The two latter I snapped with indifferent success and I enclose the prints. After a hurried rush through the Zoo we took a tram ride round the Berea, and then visited the Marine Parade and the Beach. I am sending some snapshots taken there but unfortunately they cannot convey an adequate idea of its beauty. Grass terraces, beautifully green, run almost right down to the sea, and in the background overlooking the sea are fine large stone Hotels.
Durban is by far the prettiest town I have yet seen. The native element lends it a degree of newness and accounts for a great deal of its interest to strangers. The Zulus are a fine body of natives. I don't know whether the Richshaw men are a picked body, but every one of them is of splendid physique. The native police too, come up to them in this respect.
After leaving Durban our next Port of call was Cape Town. There again there were a number of natives, known as Cape boys, who coaled the boat. They could not compare with the Natal natives

[Page 88]

in any way. They are clad in white man's attire and with it must have acquired the vices of the white with none of their virtues. They coaled the boat in the same fashion, except that they carried bags instead of baskets, but with nothing like the same vim and energy which characterised the Durban natives. Here we were marched ashore for a route march but were not taken through the town at all.
We were greatly impressed by Table Mountain and the surrounding peaks which tower into the sky. I posted a South African Annual containing views of most of the places of interest.
The town is built round the base of the Mountain along the shore of the bay and it appears to be almost thrust into the sea by the gigantic tableland which towers above it. We spent three days in Cape Town during which time four other Transports arrived containing Australian Troops. The "Belltana" with the 36th. Batt. on board, the "Bonala" with the 35th. and the "Argyleshire" conveying the 9th. Field Ambulance and the 9th. Field Artillery. The fourth boat was the "Demosthenes" conveying the 41st. or 43rd. Battalion consisting of Northern River and Queensland Troops. The latter did not leave with us owing to illness on board necessitating the ship being quarantined.

[Page 89]

Notes: H.M.S. Kent, escort.

Here we picked up our first escort consisting of H.M.S. Kent, famed for her work in the Faulkland Is. fight, where she chased and ultimately sank one of the German battleships.
Towards the end of the chase she ran out of fuel and fed her engines on the boats and other woodwork dipped in oil and on this fuel maintained a speed of twenty-four knots. I saw this little bit of information in a magazine we had on board and it helped us to a greater feeling of security when accompanied by so famed a bloodhound.
About ten days after leaving Cape Town we crossed the line and as is usual held a grand days sports to celebrate the event. Large canvas baths were rigged up on the well-deck at either side of the ship. One of the Officer, dressed as Father Neptune, and his subjects done up in all kinds of attire then took possession and everyone was ducked. The Officers and Sergeants were done Officially, having first been tried and sentenced by Father Neptune and the rest of us ducked one another when the Court was over. Father Neptune himself did not escape, despite his fine attire, and neither did his subjects as the mob turned round and flung them in when the court was dismissed.

[Page 90]

Notes: Port of call: Dakar

I wanted to get a snap of these proceedings but did not have a chance to do so as anyone who showed themselves was liable to be caught and ducked or doused with water at any time so I did not venture to carry my camera. Some energetic individuals climbed the spars above the well deck with buckets full of water and emptied them on to the spectators, who were watching the ducking. I was ducked four times myself.
One individual, in the Re-inforcements to the 9th. Field Ambulance, who were on board our boat, succeeded in escaping the ducking but it was through no fault of ours. Clad in our trousers only we searched the boat for him like a pack of bloodhounds. He had made himself obnoxious to all of us by crawling after the doctor and everyone else in authority and then assuming airs before the rest of us. As he was somewhat ladylike in his ways also we though a ducking would do him the world of good. Hence we left no corner unsearched but all in vain. The next day he informed us, mightily pleased with himself, that he had been hiding down in the stoke hole, but he was afraid to come up for his dinner.
Our next Port of call was Dakar a French Naval Base of the West coast of Africa in the Congo. It is about the most Westerly point or appears to be on the map. [Sketched map]

[Page 91]

Here again we were coaled by natives still lazier and dirtier than the proceeding mob. They passed the coal from one to another in mat baskets. Their bosses also black, distinguished from the others by wearing dilapidated cork helmets, had to be continually jabbering at and threatening them to keep them at work.
Numbers of natives rowed out to the boat in canoes, regular dug-outs made of a trunk of a tree, and dived for pennies. These they thrust into their cheeks until they bulged out like a ball and still they jabbered away as if they had nothing in their mouths. They were like fish in the water. We did not pull into the wharf at all at Dakar but pulled out as soon as we had coaled. The three other boats still accompanying us.
This time we were under the escort of the "Swiftsure" a sister ship to the triumph, sunk in the Dardanelles. She was bought from the Sicillian Government at the time of the Boer War.
We also took a gun on aboard at Dakar and mounted it on the stern. It was a fair size a 4.7 in. From here we made a swift run to England, with Lights obscured at night and nobody allowed even to light a match on deck after dark. When we were nearing the Channel and a day's steam from Devonport three Torpedo Boat Destroyers raced out to meet us and from then on we steamed along independently, each accompanied by one of them.

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During all the preceding part of the trip we had steamed in this formation.
MARATHON BONALO
H.M.S. SWIFTSURE
H.M.S. KENT
ARGYLESHIRE BELTANA

There was great speculation as to which boat would win now that they had permission to go their hardest. Of course we betted on our own boat the "Marathon" and our confidence was well founded as she left the others out of sight in three hours. Her maximum speed was about 16 Knots, not as fast as the Wollongbar, but the others could only do about 14 or 15 knots. The torpedo boat destroyers were a source of unending interest. They are well termed the wasps of the Navy. They are very small and most dangerous looking, and dart here and there at a great speed. They can do about 30 knots an hour and would rush back and forth in front of us racing up and interrogating every vessel we passed. They looked very efficient and deadly. Fortunately there was no occasion for them to show their powers. For the last two days we had to wear our life-belts constantly.

[Page 93]

We had a fine view of the famous Eddystone Lighthouse as we steamed into the harbour at Devonport.
We were all overjoyed at the first sight of England. We disembarked immediately and entrained for Salisbury Plains. People cheered us all along the route and gave us tea and buns at the Stations. The country looked beautiful. The hedges instead of fences making it most picturesque. It is very cold here but our huts are all fitted up with stoves for heating and we can get plenty of coal fuel. The food is very good and we have hot water laid on to the showers. This is a very big military centre and huts stretch out on all sides. The aeroplane sheds are near here also and it is quite a common sight to see one hovering overhead. The Tommies we have seen look much smarter than the Australians and are a good stamp of men physically.
My chief friend on the trip over was Jack Warne. He is a very good natured chap who is never better pleased than when doing something for others. He is always making me tea and collaring dainties of which I always have half.

[Page 94]

I got tired of Fred. Clarke the Corporal, although still very friendly with him, because he was too officious and always anxious to show his authority when any Officers are by. At present the five of us have a nice hut to ourselves.in which we We also have our Dispensary in it and hold our Sick Parades there.
I believe we will all get four days leave shortly in which to visit London. Warne and I intend making the trip together. I will have plenty to tell you about afterwards.
Every arrangement is made for any Australian visiting London. On arrival one reports to the Australian Headquarters and is from thence taken to the Australian Club where he can obtain board free of charge. The trip on the boat did not agree with me too well but I am now feeling fine. I will post you all the snapshots I have taken, along with this letter.
With best love to all
I remain
Your loving Son,
Eugene.

[Page 95]

No. 3
A.M.C. Detail 33rd. Batt. (9th Bdge. No. 2 Camp, Larkhill, Salisbury Plains, England.

20th July 1916

Dear father and mother/.
I received your letter, the first since I left Australia, dated the 19th May, last week , and wrote a letter by the mail leaving for Australia the day before receipt. I am going to commence numbering my letters so that you will have some idea of the number I send. This is No.3, number 1 was a letter and No.2 a post card. I did not receive any of the woollen articles you mention. In future, now that we are definitely settled, I will receive all your letters &c., provided you are careful about the address.
There is every prospect of our being in England for at least 6 months and who knows what may happen in that time.
The climate here at present is all that could be desired and the country is truly beautiful. The people too treat us right royally. At present I am in London on 4 days leave and staying at the Y.M.C.A. Hut in Aldwych, the Strand. It is a splendid place to stay. Has a fine large amusement room with all kinds of games including two billiard tables a phonograph and a

[Page 96]

Note: London visit:- St. Paul's; Tower; Y.M.C.A. Hut.

piano. The dining room is at the far end of this room and the bedrooms are in an adjoining part of the building. The charges are exceedingly moderate, 1s./6d. for a room and breakfast. The other meals we have wherever we happen to be at meal time. Meals can be had at the Hut, though, at any time of the day or night. The whole concern is run wholly for the comfort of the men and it is managed and worked by people who give their services gratuitously. This particular place seems to be run by the Smart Set. Society ladies and girls wait on the tables and do all the cooking. The main thing too is that everyone is exceedingly kind and makes you feel thoroughly at home. This is by no means their only building in London, the Y.M.C.A. have numbers of others scattered over London, but this is the newest and also the smallest. It can accomodate about 100 men. Only soldiers and sailors are admitted. Men in the trenches in France get 6 days leave every month and I have met several here who have just returned, many of them Canadians and a few Australians.

[Page 97]

On Monday, the day of our arrival, Jack Warne, Fred Clarke and I went off together and saw the made for St. Pauls first of all. We saw innumerable monuments and tombs in the crypt, including that of Lord Roberts. So many interesting and wonderful things were pointed out and explained to me within an hour that in an attempt to remember them all I have forgotten everything.
The walls of St. Paul's are 24 feet thick that is one piece of information which stuck in my memory. After St. Paul's we proceeded to the Tower and were piloted through it by some of the old Yeomen of the Guard or Beefeaters. To attempt a description of all that we saw here is beyond me. Enough to say that I saw and had explained to me everything in the book I have sent you. The most wonderful collection of all is the crown jewels.
Tuesday we spent going through the city and visiting the busiest parts. Motor buses have quite superceeded the trams in London. The bus will take one any where for just two pence. There is also the Tube (Underground) Railway running to all parts of the City. It is a wonderful piece of work. The cars are of course electric and

[Page 98]

beautifully fitted up, and they dash along at a great speed. At some of the Stations there are revolving stairs to take one up to the street at others the lift serves the purpose.
There are also electric trains underground. The tube Railway is at a still lower level.

From what I could see prices are much the same here as in Australia. I had ample opportunity of comparing them in the jewelry line at any rate, as my friend Jack Warne was facinated by every jeweller's shop we came to and insisted upon staring in the window for ten minutes. He is a dreadful dawdler in the streets and we generally tramped though the streets in Indian file, me striding along in front and Jack trotting along behind and stopping to gaze into every second shop we passed.
On Wednesday we went out to Hampton Court and afterwards to Madame Tussaud's Waxworks. The former is replete with old relics which carry one hundreds of years back into History. To really digest all the wonders of a single room would take one a whole day and we went through dozens of them. The ceilings were the most beautiful works of art I have seen. On the plain stone ceilings

[Page 99]

[Recipes not transcribed]

[Page 100]

Note: Westminster Abbey; Buckingham Palace.

of immense halls and rooms were painted the most beautiful pictures. However the old artists managed to paint them is beyond my comprehension. The old carven oak and the figures supporting the beams in the roof in another portion of the Palace are equally wonderful.
After Hampton Court we returned to Baker Street and went through the Waxworks. These are wonderfully lifelike. On entering we were confronted by a Policeman and upon going up to ask the way to the "Chamber of Horrors" discovered him to be a waxen effigy. All the great men in History down to the present day are represented there - all marvelously lifelike. To add to this illusion some of them move their heads and others appear to breathe, their chests rising and falling. Lord Kitchener is among them already.

To-day, our last day in London, we went over Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, the latter from the outside only as the King is now in residence there.I also posted a packet of cards
Well my time is now up and I must leave for the train back to Larkhill so I must cut this letter short. I wish I had

[Page 101]

Invalid cooking
[not transcribed]

[Page 102]

Stirling's address. In all probability he is in London also. I wrote to Mrs. Sharpe at her old address, just a post-card, but possibly it will not reach here. If you see a small black note book of mine kicking-round you might find his address or at least the No. of Brigade and Battery in it.
With best love to all at home & next door
Eugene.

[Page 103]

Wednesday, 26th July, 1916.

Dear Father and Mother/.
I have just heard that the Mail closes this afternoon and am hurrying off this note to let you know I am all right.
Camp seems very dull after our holidays in London, although we are having a very easy time now. Any sick men in the Battalion are marched up to shanty to see the Quack at 6.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. We give them whatever treatment he orders mostly only a dose of cough medicine, and any who are really ill are sent off to Hospital right away, so that we have none of the trouble of nursing or feeding sick cases. Most of the Hospitals are chock full of wounded, a number of them Germans. Numbers of German prisoners are arriving in London almost daily now, a great many of them badly wounded, and mostly boys.

During our spare time we go for walks through the neighbouring villages of which there a number within easy walking distance. We are constantly coming upon interesting old buildings and monuments which have stood for centuries. Yesterday I went for a stroll through Durrington and in the middle of the main street we saw a very old stone cross with stone steps leading up to it. We were puzzled as to what it could be for and bailed a passer

[Page 104]

by who informed us it was an old preaching cross many hundreds of years old and immediately opposite to it is a church over a thousand years old. These old churches were originally Catholic but now belong to various other denominations, mostly Anglican.
The original "Spreading Chestnut Tree" of world-wide renown is still standing together with the Smithy, in a small village named "Fehldeen" about two miles away. I haven't visited the spot yet but intend doing so to-night. The twilights are so long - light until 9 p.m. - that there is plenty of time for long walks after tea.
Another interesting walk I took was out to the Aerodrome near here. It was a wonderful sight to see them gliding up into the air and sailing down with the greatest ease. In about five minutes after rising they are a mere speck on the horizon. The Flying Corps, of which there are a very large number, mostly mechanics, have very fine quarters, and a splendid sports ground. As myself and friend were there at tea time we had a very good meal at their Canteen.
I hope to send you some more photos in a couple of days. I am forwarding, by even post,
a small trinket which might be useful for mother of Kit about the house. It caught my eye at the time but on further investigation is very frail

[Page 105]

I must close now or I will miss the mail. I have only had one letter from home up to the present and suppose some have gone astray.
Hoping you are all well
With love from
Eugene.

Address:-
No 1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan,
A.M.C.
33 Btn. 9th. Brigade,

[Page 106]

5 I think
Monday 31st July 1916.

Dear Father & Mother/.
I am still in the same place and have not seen any fighting yet. I am having a great time here and spend most of my time skating around the neighbourhood looking for views & places of interest to photograph.
There are a number of Australians camped at this place, including a couple of Battalions from Ennogera comprising Northern Rivers boys. The 41st. & 42nd. Battalions are chiefly made up of these. Freddie Board is also over here in charge of a Battalion as Lieut.-Colonel, also Aleck Kemp & Stratford out of Lance's. I met and had a yarn to the latter two. Tell Mrs. Kemp that Aleck is looking splendid. Their transport had a very bad trip over. The engines broke down twice, once when they were in the most dangerous area, about 100 miles from England, and they drifted for three days at the mercy of any submarines which might happen along.
I am enclosing a number of photos which I took around the neighbourhood.
I must now close in order to catch the mail. I have as yet received only one letter from home and one from Uncle Vesey, which reach me alright although addressed to Melbourne, and from there to France. I know you are writing each week and have no doubt I will receive a pile ere this reaches you. Must now close in order to catch the mail.
With love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

[Page 107]

Address:-
No. 1515. Pte. E. Sullivan,
A.M.C. Detail
33rd. Battalion, 9th Brigade,
A.I/F. On Active Service.

Kindly address as above as we will possibly have changed our quarters by the time this reaches you.

[Page 108]

No.6

Wednesday 9th. August 1916.

Dear Father & Mother/.
I am still in the same place and things are going on very quietly. We are getting much better prepared every day and it will not be long now until we leave for the front. nearly Every second day we go for a long walk to get accustomed to the Marching and the infantry have a route march every day.
I think I told you that the Officers now had horses. One of them rolled on the Colonel about a month ago and he is only just out of Hospital. Last week the same horse threw Major Massey, the second in command of this Battalion, and he cut his head and injured his side and is now in Hospital. The horses evidently share the feelings of the men and are anxious to retaliate on the two Commanding Officers for their treatment of them.
My friend Jack Warne has been sent to Hospital suffering from Mumps.
I hope you are all well. I haven't heard from home for a long while.
I am in good health and having a fine time here - quite a change after Maitland and Armidale.
There are any number of Cinema's round about the Camp and two of us have been visiting a different one every night. There are six Picture Shows, including Variety Entertainments, and some of them are very good. The films are very ancient and I have seen numbers of them in Lismore years ago.

[Page 109]

I have no more news at present so will close.
With Love from
Eugene.

I did not receive the book mentioned in Mother's letter of the 28th May but am grateful to you for sending it. I am afraid it is not worth you while posting me anything as they do not seem to reach here. If you are particular about the address your letters should come through alright.

Address:-
No. 1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan,
A.M.C. Detail,
33rd. Battaliion, 9th Brigade,
A.I.F.
On Active Service.

[Page 110]

Larkhill
Wednesday 16th August 1916.

My Dear Parents/.
An Australian mail has just arrived and I was delighted to receive two letters from Mother, and also a Lismore paper with news of G.T. Hindmarsh's death.
I am still leading a life of luxurious ease at Larkhill although all around are toiling harder than ever preparing for the front. Our picnic will come when we get there. The weather has been too wet lately to go on our usual rambles round the district as we have had to be content with indoor recreation during our spare time.
The infantry are kept hard at work lately. They are now going through their musketry and trench work. Each Company spend three days and nights in the trenches digging fresh ones and practicing attacks &c. under real active service conditions. My word they are a picture when they return, especially during this rainy weather, - covered in mud from head to foot. I took a snap of a party just back and will be able to send it with my next letter.
They practice in the trenches too with live bombs. Those they are using now are only small about the size

[Page 111]

of a cricket ball, but oval in shape. They are terrors for their size though and blow up a funnel of earth about 12 feet high wherever they land. I have often watched their effect from a safe distance. There are special parties formed for this bombing work, also for working trench-mortars, and for snipers and what they term "stunt" parties. During a bombardment of the enemies trenches a certain portion is left free for attack. Naturally all the more timid Germans congregate in this section of trench. The bombardment ceases for six minutes and it is the work of the stunting party to sally forth from their own trench and capture or kill as many of the enemy in this section as possible and return to their own trench within the six minutes. This party is specially trained in football &c.
I saw a Company with their masks on to-day & they looked most peculiar. I will send you a snap of them as soon as possible. The sight of aeroplanes sailing overhead has now become too common to be worthy of remark. At any hour of the day that one goes outside they are to be seen circling around.
The rain is pouring down outside and Salisbury is fast becoming a mud flat.
I was very sorry to hear that Douglas had discolated his shoulder at Football - that most barbarous of games.

[Page 112]

Tell him that the camera he present me with is doing splendid work and it is certainly getting plenty of it.
With love to Kit and all next door
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 113]

Salisbury Plains,
23rd.August 1916.

My dear Parents/.
Mother's interesting letter dated 1st. July reached me to-day. Hindmarsh's case is certainly a sad one - especially for people who are accustomed to every luxury and who have never had to want for anything. I am afraid from my knowledge of military matters their chance of having Jim recalled to carry on the business, is very small. I have no doubt Mrs. Robertson will, as usual, come to their rescue. Certainly they are a very public spirited family participating in most charities, and now, in their need it is incumbent on their friends to do something for them in return.
We are still at Larkhill and having a very good time. Just enough work to do to keep us from getting tired of doing nothing. To give you an idea of how hard we work I will give you a sketch of our detail as they are at present. First of all we have the hut to ourselves - six of us - and it is a fine large hut too. The fire is burning brightly in what looks like an oil-drum made of iron - the usual style of grate of rather room-heater used here. We can get any quantity of coal and procure a supply each Monday which lasts us for the week. Charles Ellis, the Apollo of the party, is sleeping peacefully on a stretcher in his corner near the fire. Jack Warne is sitting at the table on my left hand rolling cigarettes and

[Page 114]

cracking jokes whenever he gets an opportunity. He is the oldest of the party and the only married man amongst us and yet strange to say he is the livliest of us. Simington is on my right hand side writing at top speed. He is a great correspondent and sends away a budget of anything from ten to fifteen pages every week, besides writing numerous shorter letters. The one now under composition is the sixth letter he has written this week and to-day is only Wednesday. He is a mere youth of nineteen or twenty years but is withall a very level headed individual although slow to tackle any work.
Fred Clark is, contrary to his wont, reclining on another stretcher beside the table. He is generally fussing about doing something or other but I think he is still suffering from the effects of innoculation. Norris, a dour young Scotchman, or rather Scotstralion, and the butt of the party, is sitting on the form opposite with his arms folded on the table nd his head buried in them. He is also to all appearances asleep. We are always cracking jokes at his expense but he takes them all in good part and I think very frequently does not realise that a joke has been cracked or at any rate that he is the butt of them. On the table in front of me are three huge slices of cake. John Warne has just secured them from the Sergeants mess. The chap in charge - whom we have

[Page 115]

nicknamed "Matey" from the fact that he addresses everybody else by that name, is pal of ours and we frequently get little additions to our mess from him. The cake is dreadfully burnt and tastes horrible.
"Matey" when half tight drank a bottle of liniment in mistake for whisky and we had a hard
job to pull him round. This was some considerable time ago but he still endeavours to
show his gratitude for our services in the above mentioned way. Jack Warne is anyhow, a
great forager and generally manages to secure something extra. Sometimes it consists of
cocoa all round before we retire at night, a most welcome luxury, at others some tart or
pie from the sergeant's mess.
One of our victims has just arrived to have his leg dressed. He got kicked by one of the horses and the cut became septic so we have been fomenting him four times a day. He is like an alarm clock and arrives exactly on time every day. The different hours for treatment are posted on the door - texted by myself and I will repeat the notice to give you some idea of our usual hours of work. Dispensary Hours:- Sick Parade - 6 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Medicines - 6.30 a.m., 1.15 p.m.. 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. Dressings - 7 a.m., 12 noon, 5 p.m.. and 10 p.m. At each of these times we are busy for about an hour but as you will see the hours in many cases overlap.

[Page 116]

The notice winds up "Urgent cases only will be treated between these hours". Despite this notice we generally have a few coming round at all hours more particularly at meal times, and unless the matter is really urgent or unless they are cooks we give them a warm reception. The cooks and men in the Quarter Master's Store are always privileged and treated with the greatest consideration. We were all innoculated against typhoid for the second time last Saturday and it makes one feel off colour for a couple of days.

I would be glad to receive a local paper now and again if you would post one - it doesn't matter if it is a couple of days old before posting as it will be very ancient by the time it reaches here and a few days more or less will make very little difference.
With best love to all
Your loving son,
Eugene.

Address:- On Active Service.
No. 1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan,
A.M.C. Detail,
33rd Battalion, 9th Brigade,
A.I.E.F.
Abroad.

[Page 117]

Letter No. 6
Larkhill,
3rd. September 1916.

My dear Parents,
We have just received news of another Air-raid on London and I believe one of the Zepplins was brought down in the suburbs. There have been three raids within the fortnight but if believe the papers, very little damage was done. This, I believe is the biggest Zepplin raid yet attempted but full particulars are not through, the paper says the raid was still in progress when it went to Press. One of our A.M.C., Chas. Ellis, is in London on week-end leave and I dare say he will return with a full account of it and will possibly have seen the captured Zep. or at any rate, all that is left of it. I have noticed that these raids have all taken place in dull cloudy weather, which probably accounts for the raiders escaping so often. During this latest attempt the weather was cloudy and there was a dense fog in London. On the first rumour of a hostile Air attack one of the transport anywhere near here all the lights are switched out at the power station and we have to use candles.
One of the transport here has a Sunday Sun dated 9th July containing an article on our trip

[Page 118]

over in the "Marathon". Of course the name of the boat is not mentioned. The funniest part is the account given of the "One Lunged Malingerer's" attempt to get sent home. I have already told you the tale about his spitting blood and our curing him by threatening to operate.
Last Wednesday we had a really big turnout of the whole Battalion for a twenty-six miles route march. Everything had to be packed up and prepared for transport just as if we were going straight to the front. We set off at 9 a.m., with full transport column &c., and with our midday ration of bread and cheese in our pockets. We had our dinner on the road-side and arrived at our destination, Lower Wallop, at about 5 p.m. We were billetted here for the night. The A.M.C. quarters were in a fine old house undergoing repairs and we managed to make ourselves very comfortable. Of course the house was vacant and our own cooks provided our tucker. Most of the others were billetted in old barns. We were surprised to meet a couple of titled ladies, old ladies, who invited us into their home that night to have a chat.
We returned home to camp the next day, Thursday,

[Page 119]

and we were all pretty footsore and weary by the time we reached it.
The Infantry are quite used to these marches but this is the first one in which the A.M.C. Detail have been obliged to participate. I enjoyed it immensely and hope we have more of them.
I bought "Uncle Silas" a book mother advised me to read and I enjoyed it very much.
I trust you are receiving the photos I am sending. I have posted in all three large bundles, one including negatives. I will be able to send you some more soon including a number taken on our route march. I have not discovered Sterling's whereabouts. He might be camped near here without my knowing. I wrote a note to Mrs. Sharpe for his address but have not received any reply. Have you Mrs. Sharpe's address. I send my letter to Ashfield, 29 Palace St., but they vacated that house before I left Australia.
I intended to number my letters consecutively, but have forgotten what the last number was, so I am numbering "6" on speck. I think it is about right.
With best love to all
Your loving Son
Eugene.

[Page 120]

6
Larkhill,
10th September 1916.

Dear Mother/.
I received your last letter while we were bivouaced at Shrewton, about 10 miles from here, and it came as a very welcome surprise, I had no idea any mail would be delivered out there. It is something unusual for the A.M.C. to be compelled to attend route marches and this was only the second one on which we accompanied the infantry.
We set out on Wednesday a lovely morning for exercise - brisk and cold - and we soon worked up a grateful warmth. We each carried our lunch, a slice of bread and cheese, in our knapsacks and ate it by the roadside. At arrival at our destination the infantry had to start trench-digging, while we amused ourselves pitching our tent and attending a few unfortunates with blistered feet and chafed legs.
That night we were called out at 9 p.m. to attend an imaginary night attack on the trenches. We marched about two miles off without making the slightest noise and then spread out and advanced on the trenches in extended order like an army of phantoms. Everything is done without the slightest sound. Anyone talking is immediately reprimanded and one who coughs out is more severely dealt with. When any orders are required they are passed along the line from mouth to mouth

[Page 121]

in whispers, but, for the most part, each soldier just follows the one in front of him or keeps in line with his next door neighbour. Needless to say we were delighted when it was all over and we could climb back into our warm beds. We all had to sleep in the open and I am tell you it was very chilly. When we awakened in the morning our top blankets were soaked through with dew, and our hands and feet were frozen. The doctor and his orderly occupied the solitary tent but they fared very little better than ourselves. We returned to Larkhill on Thursday afternoon and, to our surprise, had to set out again for Shrewton on Friday morning.
This time we carried out a mock attack on the trenches in the presence of the Brigadier-General himself. He acted as a kind of umpire and decided when the men should be counted as casualties.
We and the stretcher-bearers had to carry out our portion of the job too. The doctor established a dressing station under some shelter about half a mile two hundred yards from the trenches and the stretcher-bearers brought the wounded in to us there to be dressed &c.
The Brigadier had a supply of pebbles and whenever a party exposed themselves too much he would throw one of these supposedly bombs amongst them and tell them that they were all casualties. A ticket was then pinned to them denoting the nature of their wounds for the information of the stretcher bearers who had to then render first aid and carry them in to our dressing station or Reg. Aid Post. I can tell you we had our

[Page 122]

hands full in no time. In fact the only way in which we managed to cope with the casualties at all was by the doctor going out himself and telling the greater numbers of the wounded that they were dead. This relieved tension and enabled us to cope with the remaining casualties.
The whole battalion are being rounded up and compelled to take part in different general actions, attacks &c., which means that it won't be very long before we leave for France. A draft of 40 men have already left here for further training and are to proceed to France in as week or so. Of course France does not mean the firing line by any means. I believe they have so many men in France now that no battalion does more than a couple of weeks in the trenches at a stretch. They are held in reserve for big engagements after which they return again to comparative security within easy reach of the firing line.
I suppose all news of the Zeppelin raid will be out of date by the time this reaches you. I mean the raid in which Flight Lieut. Robinson brought down one of the enemy. One of our A.M.C. Detail, C. Ellis, was in London at the time and saw the whole performance.

[Page 123]

He says the noise of the anti-aircraft guns was simply deafening and awakened him at about 2 p.m. When he saw it numbers of search lights were centred on the Zepp. and it looked like a huge cigar covered in silver paper. The guns were plunking away at this incessantly. He then saw a red light winking from above the Zepp. and immediately after a flame appeared at one end and in no time had run the whole length of the Zepp. and enveloped the whole in a blood-red flame. Although the Zepp was 18 miles out of London and several miles up in the Air he says one could read by the light of the flames. He went out to view the remnants the following morning but there was very little to be seen only a vast mass of wire and a large half buried engine weighing one ton. That is four engines each weighing a quarter of a ton.
I have a number of photographs undergoing completion, in various stages but owing to the numerous marches we have been compelled to attend lately I have not been able to finish any for posting. The vest Mother mentions will be most welcome but as yet I have not received any notification of a parcel but am living in hopes. I will let you know if I receive it.

[Page 124]

I have now exhausted my scant stock of news so will close. With best love to all from
Your loving son
Eugene

P.S. I have posted Kit a book called "Fragments from France" containing drawings by Bruce Bainsfather. They are very comical and most popular here.

Address:-
No 1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan,
A.M.C. Detail,
33rd. Battaliion, 9th. Brigade,
A.I.F. Abroad.

[Page 125]

Letter No.7.
Larkhill Camp.
Sunday, 17th. September 1916

Dear Mother/.
I received two interesting letters from you last week, one dated 16th. & the other 23rd.July. I wish I possessed your art of letter writing and I could then hold up my end, but now as I seldom do any reading I feel it is quite an undertaking to compose any kind of an epistle. I have been revelling in photography for the last weeks and have printed quite a number of photos and glazed them on the glass of one of our windows. I am more than pleased with the result and am posting you a number of them. Some you will already have but I have no doubt you will find in these such a marked improvement as to warrant your destroying the previous ones. Fred Clark has been getting his done by the photographer but our latest efforts have quite equalled any they have turned out for him. Of course we do our own developing too. Our bathroom makes a splendid darkroom when a blanket is fixed over the window. Any of the prints in which I appear were taken by either Simington or F. Clark, but practically all the rest are mine. I intend forwarding you the negatives as soon as I have made a print to keep for myself. I hear that no cameras are allowed in France so I may have to post you that too but will keep it as long as possible.
The cutting you sent from the "Sun" does refer to our transport, in fact the subject "the One-Lunged Malingerer"

[Page 126]

Last letter no. 56

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is here at present undergoing treatment for an Abcess in the ear. I handed him the cutting to read and he was mightily amused at the account of his doings, although when he came to the part stating that he never had a bath he denied it emphatically, and in vivid language expressed a wish to get hold of the person who wrote it and he would knife him. Jones had been up before a Medical Board here on the plea of insanity but his case was dismissed and he is still in camp.
The cold and rainy weather is setting in here now and Tommies, who are medically unfit for service at the front, are busy putting down gratings for footpaths round the huts. They are very necessary too as the least little drop of rain makes a bog of this place. It has only been drizzling for a day and now if one crosses the yard one slips and sithers around like a beginner on skates.
We are in for another long route march this week and are to stay out - possibly billetted - for a couple of days.
I received the photo of Kitty & co. at Cahills. I think it is a dreadful libel on poor Kit. I have been afraid to let go of it for fear some of the boys asking who they are, when I would be compelled to either lie bravely or give the show away. I have no doubt that is what I am doing now as I cannot imagine Kit sanctioning its despatch. Ask her to send me a snap of you and father and get you to take one of her. She might also get an opportunity of snapping Douglas and Kevin on their visits home. I would also like to get one of Cap or a print from one of those


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Douglas took. I have not heard anything of the parcel you had sent although I have made repeated enquiries at the Post Office. Other chaps have received parcels from Australia safely so I have no doubt it will turn up in the end.
I am enclosing with the snaps one of an aerial observation balloon. It is a very poor snap but will give you some idea of the peculiar shape of these gas bags. On our recent route marches we have passed the station from which this balloon ascends. It is held to the ground by a fine steel wire which is controlled by a specially constructed motor car. The four dots hanging near the stern are kinds of parachutes which I imagine are for steadying the balloon. I hope to be able to get a better snap of it on some subsequent occasion. It is used when the artillery are at practice to observe where the shells are lobbing and communicates with them. Only two men go up in it.
Your account of Vesey's shooting expedition is most amusing. Poor Cap must be very hard up for exercise when he accompanies a shooting party which is out to raid on King-fishers. I can't imagine a more harmless and ornamental bird. Surely he did not shoot them sitting. It is certainly a dreadful pass for a member of Lismore's Home Defence Corps to come to. It must be rather amusing to see Vesey marching round the street with Winterton's Corps although I must admire his spirit in joining.
When I was in London I saw what must be a similar corps drilling in the grounds of the Tower

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of London. It was composed of all sorts and conditions of elderly gentlemen from top hats and frock coats down to caps and sand shoes. The greater number though look like gentlemen of affairs. I find that the people here are very deceptive in this respect. Even the grocers boy carries a cane and walks with a swagger. Most of the soldiers too swagger around with sticks most of them looking as if they owned the town. Members of the 9th. F. Ambulance are, I am sorry to say, particularly offensive in this respect.
Remember me to Aunt Kate and Uncle Vesey and with best love to all at home
I remain,
Your loving son
Eugene.

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7th. Septr. 1916
Camp No. 2.
Larkhill.

My dear Parents/.
I received two very interesting letters from mother during the week, one enclosing a letter from Douglas, and a snap of Kit taken by Nell Franceschi. What I could see of her was very nice, but, owing to the print being insufficiently fixed in Hypo it had gone rather dark and the face was quite indistinguishable. I am glad to hear Kevin has tackled work of some kind, and no doubt he will stick at it as long as he is pushed for funds. Douglas's letter as usual is full of common sense. No parcels from home have reached me up to the present but I am living in hopes as some of the boys have received parcels weeks after being advised of them by letter.
Last week we went on a route march to Chitterne, about 13 miles distant, and were billetted there for two nights. I am sending you a few photos I took while there. The A.M.C. and band were quartered together in an old two storied dwelling - all stone and brick and dating from some hundreds of years back like most of the English homes in the villages round about. Of course it was vacant and our meals &c were supplied by our own cooks.
As it was only the day after pay-day everybody had money and we were the making of the village. There was a small shop next door to our house and it was bought out within the first

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hour. Next day they had in a fresh stock and were bought out again by evening. The other inhabitants were out for making what they could too. We bought some eggs and bacon at the store and paid one of the neighbours a shilling from each of us to cook them and give us tea &c. She supplied us with a very nice tea served in a cosy little dining room with a fine fire crackling in the grate. It was quite homely and a pleasant change from scrambling for tucker in the military style.
This lady's husband was at the front. In fact every house in the village has its representative there; most of them are bereft of the head of the household and the wife and four or five children are left at home to subsist as best they can on the miserable military pay. The English tommy only gets his 1s/1d per day with an extra allowance of
16s/10d for his wife if she lives in London and 12s/6d is she lives in the country. They are also allowed an extra 5/- for one child and 10/6 for three. The french soldier is even worse off and only gets three-halfpence a day - his fighting is true patriotism. Until recently he only received a half-penny per day.
The people in these villages, which are dotted over the countryside within a mile or two of one another, are very old fashioned. Most of them never move out of their own little township and some don't even know the name of the next township but one. They are also dreadfully pecuniary, through necessity I daresay.



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While I was in the shop at Chitterne several old dames came in and purchased three-ha'pennyth of different household necessities. None of them spent more than four pence. You can judge what a windfall our arrival was to the storekeeper. Another little incident illustrating their thriftyness. Myself and some others were yarning to the storekeeper outside his yard and he was very eloquent in his praise of a sheep-dog which he had with him. After listening patiently to his stories of the different feats performed by his pet we asked him to sell us a little coal to start a fire in our quarters as it was very cold. He had a stack in his yard almost as high as the house. This quelled his eloquence immediately and he became very cold and calculating. We told him that we only wanted very little; and full expected to be invited to help ourselves, which we would otherwise have done without asking.
Instead of this he demurred and said he had no idea of the price of coal in small quantities as he always purchased it by the ton. After beating about the bush for a while we were constrained to offer him 6d. for a small bucket-ful. He wasn't inclined to accept this until we hinted that we could easily help ourselves later on when opportunity offered. Having secured the coal we asked him where we could procure a few faggots for kindling the fire - he had a yard full of them himself. He replied that he was afraid we wouldn't find any about. Needless to say we managed to find some and soon had a

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cheerful blaze.
While marching across the moors near Chitterne, on our way to a sham fight, we passed the stone, a photo of which I am enclosing. The snap is a poor one as one of our chaps opened my camera by accident and let the light in onto the film. The stone is rather an interesting relic and was erected to indicate the spot at which a certain "noted Highway Robber of awful memory named Benjamin Golclough was shot dead whilst trying to escape from his pursuers" and it also records the fact that "his three companions in iniquity (names) were captured near here and sentenced to fifteen years hard labour at a court held at Devises &c." B. Golclough was buried without funeral honours at Chitterne". This relic must be of great antiquity but I don't remember seeing any date. The whole inscription is written in stilted old English. The soldier standing beside it is a patient whom I was piloting home at the time.
Well! great things have been doing in military circles around Larkhill to-day. His Most Gracious Majesty the King reviewed all the Australian troops in training here - that is the Third Division. This of course included myself among its atoms. It was a very impressive sight to see the whole division drawn up in full strength. In all forty thousand men or thereabouts marched past him. We were told that we were the largest body of Australian troops the King has ever reviewed and, of course, that we marched splendidly &c., I will post you one of the papers, if they give an account of it, in the morning.

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The Zeps have been very busy around here lately. I suppose you have read all about the two being brought down last Sunday morning. Some of our battalion who were on leave brought home fragments of shrapnel which they dug out of the pavements, and one of the Head Qtrs staff Pte. Smith, the Opossum King, returned with a bullet wound through the hand. The shrapnel must have come from our own anti-aircraft guns. I am forwarding the "Sketch" giving some pictures of the fallen monsters. On looking for this paper I find it has been used to wrap up lunch. Anyhow I suppose you have the same pictures appearing in the Sydney papers. I don't think any of the papers here come up to the Australian Papers, even the "Times" is behind our "Sydney M. Herald" or "Telegraph" and "Punch" can't compare with the Bulletin.
I must close now as we have just received word to move to another camp to leave room for some fresh troops.
With best love to all at home & next door
Your loving son
Eugene

No. 1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan,
A.M.C. Detail
33 Btn. 9th. Brigade,
A.I.F. On Active Service
Abroad.

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No. 21 Camp, Larkhill.
Sunday, 8th. October 1916.

My Dear Parents/.
I received an interesting letter from Mother yesterday dated the 8th. August - just two months which I think is about the usual time the mail takes. It seems strange to hear that you are still, or rather were still, speculating as to whether I am in England or still on the way. I hope you are receiving my letters alright. We are constantly receiving fresh orders as to where and how our letters are to be posted so that they may be censored properly. I started numbering them but I have forgotten what the last number was: anyhow I have been writing every week since our arrival here and that is now fourteen weeks ago.

I cabled home yesterday for ten pounds out of my account. I would have managed without this but for the fact that we are being given four days indulgence leave this or next week and it will be in all probability our last leave in England. Before we are allowed go on this holiday we must be able to produce at least four pounds. Needless to say on two shillings a day I haven't succeeded in saving this amount or even a portion of it and I think it would be a pity to miss this last

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opportunity of seeing some more of the largest city in the world. I must say I am not greatly enamoured of it all the same, although we soldiers are treated everywhere we go as privileged and welcome visitors. Clubs are open specially for our use everywhere and all kinds of amusements and entertainments are provided specially for us.
Certainly some of Londons old buildings are wonderful monuments but give me Sydney for beauty, every time. I was considering a trip to Ireland but on reflection had decided that it would be wiser not to go just at present on account of the state of feeling there.

I came across an extract in the "Evening News" from the "Times" giving a very good account of our work at the front. The original article was written by Lord Northcliffe and is entitled "the War Doctors". As I daresay you are frequently confronted with questions as to what our real work is at the front and where we are located I am enclosing the cuttings. I regret that I am unable to to procure the original article in the "Times". As we are such a small Detail, only four men and a Corporal, we had trouble ourselves in finding what our position and work was and I was glad to come across this elucidation of the problem. We are with the R.M.O. (Regimental Medical Officer) and his stretcher bearers in the R.A.P.
(Regimental Aid Post).

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The stretcher bearers bring the wounded from the firing line to the R.A.P. and it is our Detail which attends to them there.
We were treated to a fine display of flying at the Divisional Sports last week. We were all engrossed in the ring events when an aeroplane came swooping down close over our heads, it was a windy day and at each turn the plane took the wires twanged like a harp and could be heard all over the oval. After circling round the ring two or three times at no greater height then 15 feet, so that we all thought they would crash amongst us at any moment, the intrepid airman rose to a considerable height and dashed straight down at the shed near the oval and just as we expected to see his machine smashed to match wood he shot up into the air clearing the shed by a few feet; when the machine was some thousands of feet up it then looped the loop four successive times; then coming quite low again the airman waved us a farewell and soon shot out of sight. There were two men in the machine but of course one of them does all the work. I believe he is a V.C.; as he came back and landed near the sports ground later and chatted to our Officers, and I heard his name but have now forgotten it. He wasn't Robinson of Zepp fame anyway

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in absolute fact. As a matter of fact I don't think any-one, even the heads of the battalion, know where we are to go until the last minute. All who are all unfit are now being weeded out and their places filled and the infantry are to be issued with their rifles and gloves this week so something is on the boards.
The whole Division were out in the trenches last week and they had several large mock attacks in which both Artillery and Aeroplanes participated and General Birdwood was present and congratulated the men on their work.
I was the only one of our Detail left at home for the week. There were about one hundred and fifty men in camp and I had to attend to their ailments. They kept me pretty busy but I enjoyed myself immensely as I had a free hand and could treat the men as I thought fit without fear of censure. One of the men showed his appreciation of my efforts by presenting me with a leather pocket wallet which I am sending with this letter. He was suffering from an irritant rash known as scabies. The doctor did not interest himself sufficiently to do anything for the chap, one the lotion which he gave him had failed to cure, so I looked the matter up and succeeded in curing him. He was extremely grateful but I was sorry that he though it necessary to make me a present. I already have the one Aunt Kate gave me

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from Tare and as it is more useful and a better article I have transfered the note books to it from the new one. The rest of it may prove useful to Douglas if he doesn't mind my name appearing on it. The Drv. E Sullivan, is a mistake. The donor laboured under the impression that all the A.M.C. were drivers.
It is bitterly cold here now. We have a fine fire in our room and it helps to keep things cosy but still we feel the cold considerably. Those mittens Kit sent are a real God send. Did she knit them herself? The arrangement to permit of the fingers being slipped out is very cute.
I pity Kit if she is to type all my letters as I intend to take your tip and write down things as they occur. Sometimes I have quite a fund of interesting news but by the time I come to writing a letter it all seems stale and I forget what I have already told in the previous letter.

That episode of the lady at the University is certainly very amusing. I can just picture Douglas finishing her off with his message.
Give my love to Aunt Kate and Uncle Vesey. I know Kate is always with me in her prayers and I feel more than grateful to her. She certainly hit the mark in her dream about the voyage but since then I have picked up wonder-

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fully. If I was to be transported home now I don't think you would detect any change in me from when I left.
Vesey's presentation pen is doing good work. I regret that I can't give him the benefit of its use but I know he and Kate receive all the news from you. I am such a poor scribe that it is quite an effort to keep up to the minimum one letter per week. How is the garden getting along? Has father been slaving in it lately or is golf still in full swing? Father would be enraptured with some of the rose vines around here. Some of the old two storied stone houses in the villages nearby have rose vines clambering all over them - even right on to the roof and some of them are a mass of bloom.
I must close now or I will miss this mail.
With best love to all from
Your loving son, Eugene.

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Camp No. 21 Larkhill. 19th October 1916

Dear Father and Mother/.
I received another letter from Mother to-day. It was written on the 23rd. August. In it mother speaks of a previous letter in which she told me of an illness which father had. (I did not receive this letter) - I judge it to have been some heart trouble. I am greatly relieved to hear that he is well again but it gave me quite a shock to learn that he had been ill at all.
Yourself and father have such fine constitutions that it is a great surprise to hear of your being ill at all and I was altogether unprepared for any such news.
I can't imagine father suffering much from heart trouble. His heart is too large for that. Certainly both of you have had some bitter disappointments - not the least of which is my failure to become a full fledged solicitor before enlisting. Never mind, should God spare me to return I trust to be able to remedy that if you wish it. Meanwhile Douglas is always fulfilling all your hopes. It must be a comfort to you to have at least one of the family forging ahead in the right direction and promises ere long to take some

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of the burden of the household off your shoulders.
It must be a worry to father to have to be still worrying about making ends meet - as I know business cannot be very brisk during these perilous times. I know he would never be content to be a drone supported by his sons but it is another thing to be providing for them when they are all full grown men. Why don't you people take things more reasonably and allow us, your boys, have the small satisfaction of doing something towards your comfort. I have ample money for my requirements out of the two shillings a day which I draw here and nothing would give me greater pleasure than for you to use my allowance to help towards a trip at Christmas. Why not visit Evan's Head or Sydney this year.

You need not think that I will require any of it on my return, should I be so fortunate, as I will still be in receipt of my pay and any returned man who is able and willing to work has no difficulty whatever in procuring a position which will supply him with ample money for all his needs. You know I am not a spendthrift and anyone who cannot support himself and also put something by is a poor specimen indeed.
The ten pounds for which I cabled is in order to enable me to have a fly round before leaving here for the front. As a

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matter of fact I do not require it now as I have raised the requisite four pounds. If it does come I will be wallowing in money, as we will not get any further leave before proceeding to the front.
Should I return and find my money untouched I will be exceedingly annoyed so please make use of it whenever it may be useful. I know there won't be more than about ten pounds but it might help a little in an emergency and there will be more coming in regularly. Besides this amount I will have my deferred pay of 1/- a day intact when I return.

Things are very quiet here now. Our sick parades are very small and we have a great deal of spare time which we put in at cricket reading and writing. Our Division, the third, are to leave for the front either in France or Salonika, about the end of this month. In the meantime drill has slackened off considerably and the men are having an easy time preparatory to a strenuous one in the trenches. I believe it is proposed to give us a fly at the enemy just for a few weeks and then withdraw us into quarters for the winter. This is what rumour says at present but ten to one something fresh will be going the rounds before to-morrow. Whenever there is any fresh move in preparation rumour is rife in the camp and every other day something fresh is quoted as

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We have shifted camp since I last wrote and hence I am somewhat late with my letter this week. Our new camp is not nearly so comfortable as the one we left. I am afraid my photography will suffer in consequence of the move as we have no place in our present quarters that I can convert into a dark room. Also I will have to take on gaslight instead of daylight paper as there is very little sun these days to print photos. It rains every day now and I suppose we can reconcile ourselves to some weeks of it, now that winter is coming on.
Our new camp isn't half a mile from the old one and I can see no object for the move, unless the idea is to prevent us becoming too comfortably settled for fear we will never want to move. We are in huts just the same as at the other camp.
There is a small camp for german prisoners just behind us. I took a trip over to have a look at them yesterday. They seem perfectly happy and are well cared for. They are quartered in tents inside a barbed wire enclosure about twelve feet high, and of course sentries are posted on each of the four sides. There are only about 150 prisoners in all. To my surprise most of them were fair, both in hair and complexion, and nothing like what is supposed to be the typical hun. They are a good stamp of men physically.

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One fellow in particular attracted my attention on account of his size. He must have been about six feet six inches in height and broad in proportion, and he strutted about with his legs stiff in the true goose-step style and whenever he stopped he clicked his heels together; with the click being distinctly audible to us at twenty paces distance. He had his hands in his pockets and was only mooching along but evidently could not get out of this step which I suppose had been drummed into him for years. He wore top boots and a Captain Kettle beard whereas the other Germans wore putties and had their chins shaven. This led me to suppose that he was one of the true Prussians, probably belonging to the Prussian Guard. Most of the prisoners were clad in loose grey clothes with a large blue circular patch in the middle of the back of their coats.
Fifty men out of our Battalion were posted as a Zepp picket every night and in case of Zepplins being reported in the neighbourhood it is their business to surround the German concentration camp and pour lead into the Germans on the first sign of hostilities on their part, either by signalling to the Zepps or otherwise. As they are each issued with 20 rounds of ball cartridge there would be some havoc done. I think a similar picket comes from each of the other three Battalions in the Brigade.

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I have just heard that the mail closes to-night so I must bid you a hasty farewell
With best love to all
From, Your loving Son
Eugene.

P.S. No parcels have reached me yet.

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No. 21 Camp, Larkhill,
18th. October 1916.

My dear Parents.
Just a short line to let you know I am well and still in England. I received your cable three days ago and had a few day previously Cabled for ten pounds to be sent to the
Commonwealth Bank in London.
I was very glad to hear that you received the snaps and thought them good. Unfortunately I will not be able to take my camera to France with me so I will probably have to post it to you shortly. I succeeded a few days ago in securing some rather good pictures of an aeroplane and will enclose them with my next letter.
Half of our Battalion have already had their final King's leave and I am to go with the remainder in a few days. We got four days in all and before we leave each man is required to show at least four pounds. Unfortunately I hadn't succeeded in saving any of my pay so I sent the cable.
I received a pair of gloves yesterday addressed in Kits inimitable style and they were more than welcome. The cold here now is intense and my hands were beginning to chap. I received a letter from mother yesterday. Excuse brevity - have just heard that mail closes at 1 O'clock but as there will be another on the 21st Inst. I will write again shortly.
With love, Eugene.

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Larkhill, Camp No. 21.
Saturday, 21st. October 1916.

My Dear Parents:-
In accordance with my promise I am now commencing to write something each day. I missed last night owing to a slight billious attack. It seems strange to be admitting to a billious attack on the camp diet. In truth we have nothing to complain of in the matter of feeding now, although things are run on strictly economical lines. Every particle of bread is used up. When any scraps are over from a meal they appear in the disguise of bread pudding at the next. Also any food that is over from the Mess, except what has actually been on the men's plates and mauled about, has to be returned to the Kitchen, and is dished up again. The cooks have all been through school, where they learnt to save on cooking wherever possible.
All scraps, too, have to be kept carefully separated - the bones and fat are boiled down and used in the manufacture of munitions, and the rest provides food for animals; pigs I suppose. Despite these precautions the food is very good and there is plenty of everything excepting sugar. Many a good pudding is spoiled for want of it and the tea is scarcely worth drinking. This scarcity has only been noticeable since the Government took over the control of the sugar

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supply. You will see that there is not much to complain about when I tell you that from Monday next cocoa and biscuits is to be provided at 8 p.m. each night. We have tea at 5.30 p.m.
It is bitterly cold here now. Each morning my hands and feet are like blocks of ice, despite the fact that I have five thick blankets over and under me. There is any quantity of coal though, and I soon get a fire going and thaw them out before proceeding to work. I feel like an artic explorer in his sleeping bag when I crawl into bed with my Balaclava Cap pulled well down over my neck and a thick shirt and pair of socks on. It is a very rare occurrence for our slumbers to be disturbed now, but last night was an exception.
At twelve midnight I had to crawl out of my comfortable bag to attend to a man who was suffering from Pneumonia. Two of the others had carried him into the hut from his own quarters before I awoke and I only had to assist in poulticing him. He didn't have it very badly and appeared much better this morning when I took him to Hospital.
The Corporal, C. Ellis, and Norris, went on their final leave this morning. Owing to the congested week-end traffic, they had to catch a train for London at five to five. This necessitated their arising a 3 a.m. I tell you I did not envy them when they crawled out this morning. It was quite

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cold enough for me in bed. During their absence I am left in charge. It isn't a very onerus position as the Doctor is here and all I have to do is see that his orders are carried out. I haven't a host of men at my command either as there are only three of us here altogether. I spent most of to-day nursing the fire.

Sunday 22nd.
Another bitterly cold day. The breeze is particularly piercing and seems to blow right through one. Our sick parade on a Sunday is not until 9 a.m. so we all enjoyed a sleep in until 8 a.m. - which is breakfast time. The Doctor himself is very loth to rise these cold mornings and he generally sends across first to ascertain if the size of the Parade warrants his attendance. The Parades lately have not exceeded a dozen in the morning. This morning to his horror there were twenty men requiring treatment. When the Doctor arrived he wasn't in the best of humours having to leave his cosy bed, so that nearly every one of them got Calomels or Castor Oil. There is no doubt that a number of them only attended the sick parade in order to escape Church Parade which was at the same time.

I received a letter to-day from a Mrs Madeline A. Garrick, a sister-in-law to Mrs. J. E. Joubert, stating that she had heard of me through the latter, and extending me an invitation

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to spend a few days at her home "Holcombe", Westcote, Dorking, Surrey, at any time after the 20th. November. She is at present away in Scotland. I will not be able to avail myself of the invitation as we will have left here by then. I am writing to her and Mrs. Joubert thanking them.

Monday 23rd.
Captn. Rosenthal went on leave early this morning. I am looking forward to going on Wednesday morning. If the money I cabled for arrives I will probably visit Dublin otherwise I will spend my four days in London.
The letter you spoke of telling me of father's illness has not reached me yet. It must have gone astray in the post along with the parcels you sent. I trust that all at home are well and that father's health is fully restored.
With best love to all at home and next door
Your loving son,
Eugene.

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A.M.C. Detail 33rd. Batt. 9th. Bdge.
Larkhill, No. 21 Camp. England.
25th October 1916.

Dear Father/.
I am at present in London, this being the first of my four days final leave, and I am seizing the opportunity afforded by a short lull before tea to write you a few lines. I was extremely sorry to learn that you have not been too well. You should take a leaf from Vesey's book and take every care of yourself until you regain your usual good-health. I am sure if you put your own welfare before that of others it won't take long for you to regain your former vigour. You know Dad that you never do consider how much you take out of yourself and would keep on working until you fall exhausted. You know that when any of us young men garden with you we always have to cry quits first. You are so willing in spirit that you have no care for what tax you put on your physical powers and they are beginning to revolt against it.
Heart failure is not serious for one who is willing to take warning and take things more easily but to one of your

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temperament this will mean a considerable tax.
You need not worry on my account, since, at the expense of promotion, I have secured one of the safest jobs there are on a modern battle field. Why, in another year or so you will have me back again amongst the family and ready and willing to assist in taking some of the burden of the Office off your shoulders! The experience I am gaining now should stand me in good stead. Not that there is anything legal about it but it all helps to form up a character. I know that things can't be very bright in business circles during these perilous times but, please God, they will be over shortly and things will then soon revert to their normal conditions.
Douglas, too, is forging ahead in fine style and it won't be long before he is launching forth on his own account and assisting to "keep the home fires burning".
It would hurt us sorely, I know I can speak for Douglas as well as myself, if, after providing for us in every way, and lavishing affection upon us, we could not repay you in some small way. I myself am hopefully looking forward to the time when I will be able to have the satisfaction of doing something towards the support of the family in order that you may not be continually worried over money matters.
I must beg you, in all sincerity, to make use of my small allowance to help things along. I know you are not in need of it, and, if you were, it would be all too small

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to be of much assistance, but just to give me the satisfaction of thinking that I am assisting in some way. I will never need the money myself. Should I be incapacitated for a while I have my deferred pay to help me along besides having home to come to until I recuperate.
I will tell you of my trip in my next letter.
With fond love
Your loving son,
Eugene.

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No. 21 Camp, Larkhill,
Sunday 29th. October 1916

Dear Father and Mother/.
I received two very interesting letters from mother since I wrote last, one dated the 21st. August and the other the 5th.September. I have just returned from my four days London leave, and am fagged out from bustling around endeavouring to see everything in that time.

On my arrival I made my way straight to the Y.M.C.A. Hut in the Strand where I stayed before. It is a real home. I booked my bed at a cost of 1s/6d including breakfast, and then proceeded to do the town.
As I had a friend with me who hadn't seen London before I took him to see the Tower. The large moat which was once filled with water is now used as a Parade ground and a number of troops were drilling there. I took a snap of them with the Tower in the background and am enclosing a print.
All soldiers in uniform are admitted free although the prices are fairly heavy for civilians. I took another photo of the site where traitors and others were formerly beheaded and I am also sending a print of it. I then thought I would like to snap one of the "Beefeaters" clad in his regalia and I was just focussing my camera on a particularly brilliant looking specimen when he shouted at me in no mild terms to desist. I thought

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he must be a particularly self conscious individual but he didn't leave me long in doubt,
but strode over and informed me that I would have to give him the film or else expose it so as to ruin the pictures.
I remonstrated with him and pleaded that I had no idea there would be any objection to me photographing such an ancient relic - meaning the Tower of course - and in the end he consented to allow me to keep it, provided I put the camera out of sight immediately. Another amusing incident occured when we were looking at the crown jewels. Of course this portion of the Tower is particularly well guarded and in the small jewel chamber itself there are four burly Beef-eaters. Two of the guard were talking together near where I was standing when a young New Zealander, evidently struck by the beauty of the jewels, pulled out his camera to photograph them, As the light was too subdued for a snap-shot he walked over to the window, and, picking up a small pair of steps, proceeded to adjust his camera on them in the middle of the room. He was so cool about the performance that he was about to take the photo before the guard realised what he was up to. "That's the coolest thing I ever saw" he exclaimed "taking my own steps to do it with too" and he pounced on the culprit and exposed his film. The N.Z. reminded me of Douglas and wasn't in the least perturbed.
What interested and amused us most were the Armouries which

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are situated in the basement and cover several rooms. The ancient weapons are most dangerous looking, particularly the pikes and bills and glaves which are of every imaginable shape and size. The lances too are very awe inspiring in size. One was as thick round the butt as a telegraph pole and at least 20 feet long. Some of the weapons too are most artistically carved - particularly the battle-axes.
The best play I saw during my stay was "Chu Chin Chow of China" Oscar Ashe and Lilly Brayton. There was a true Eastern atmosphere about the play. The market-place scenes in particular were very picturesque. The theme of the play is identical with "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves". Chu Chin Chow who poses as a wealthy chinese merchant turns out to be none other than Abu Hassan the chief of the Forty Thieves and thenceforward the plan is the same as the fairy tale.
A close second was a very entertaining and amusing Revue entitled "Flying Colours". One scene is taken from Bainsfather's drawings of "Tommy in the Trenches" and is a splendid representation. I also saw "The Best of Luck" featuring Madge Litherage a hair-raising drama and "Theodore & Co" very mediocre musical play.

November 2. The A.D.M.S. Colonel White - who is medical head of the Division - sent down to-day for one of our Detail to attend lectures on Chiropody. To my surprise Captn. Rosenthal appointed me and I went to the first lecture this afternoon.

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It appears that one man out of each A.M.C. Detail in the division has to attend the course. It is to comprise a series of twenty lectures and an examination at the conclusion. If we pass the examination we receive a Chiropodist's Certificate. Each of us are to be provided with a complete set of instruments and will be expected to convey our knowledge to the rest of the Detail when we are qualified ourselves.
We were all issued with our colours to-day - black and green - oval in shape. There seems to be some doubt as to whether we will wear these or chocolate the A.M.C. colour.
A box of comforts from the A.A.M.C. Comforts Depot Sydney arrived a few days ago. We each received a nice green sweater, 2 pr socks, 2 towels, 2 handkerchiefs, 1 pr. mits, 1 large flannell cap & comforter, - very welcome gifts in this weather; Also a number of "Bulletins".
I posted home from London a book of views which I hoped might interest you, a few pictures, and a Xmas & Birthday present for Kit - a Butterfly. It's rather suitable don't you think!
We haven't heard anything definite about leaving for the front. Probably we will be here for Xmas now.
Our camp is a regular quagmire at present. The winter rains have set in and if one puts foot off the beaten track he sinks in mud up to the ankle or slips over on the glassy surface. One consolation

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is there are fine roads and ramps paths all through the camp leading to the baths, messrooms &c.
While in London I called at the bank and received the £10 you sent. It was very welcome and will tide me over another trip if I can secure the requisite leave.
Trusting all at home are well
Your loving son
Eugene.

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No. 21 Camp, Larkhill
Tuesday, 7th. Novr. 1916

My Dear Parents/.
"Letter for you to-day Boys - letter for you to-day" the mail call have just rang out on the Bugle. It is the most welcome sound the Bugle ever makes. All day long it is blaring out some call or other which demands immediate obedience. The worst of all is the "Get out of bed, Get out of bed - get out of bed Quick" which disturbs and terminates our repose in the early hours of the morning. To some the Defaulters call of "You can be a defaulter as long as you like but you have to come when you're called" is still worse - ringing out as it does at every spare moment during the day until 10 p.m. at night demanding the attendance of all who are undergoing punishment for a half hours pack drill. Luckily this is not my bugbear as I have escaped being crimed up to the present.
The "Fall in A. fall in B, fall in every Company" is equally repugnant and the Bugles final blatant blare of "Lights Out - Lights Out" generally sounds when one is in the middle of a letter or an interesting story. Sometimes it sounds when we are at work and then we disregard it. A.M.C. work overrules most orders,

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and when the orderly officer comes round in a tearing rage at having to do so, to order the lights out and chew us into mince meat, we sweetly inform him that we are attending to a patient. He chokes down his wrath as best he can and strides off muttering maledictions against the A.M.C. who think they can run the show and never conform to the rules.
The only other welcome note the bugle sounds is "Cook-house" and even that has its drawbacks and depends for its congenialness upon the dinner which awaits us. The food isn't too bad but it is the policy of most to growl about it anyhow otherwise we will never get any better.
But there is no doubt the Mail call is always welcome - a few of the unfortunates who don't receive expected letters have long faces - but the majority are a mass of beams and chuckles as they return with letters. It is the least imperative and yet the most promptly obeyed call of them all. It's last sound has scarcely died out before the Orderly room is beseiged with anxious enquirers for mail for their respective sections. I was one of the broadest smilers to-day when I received a closely written letter from mother. It was a real lesson in handwriting not to mention composition and I had all the detail admiring the writing and enquiring from whom it

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came. I didn't half tell them either! as the Tommies would say "Not 'alf !!"
It is fine when seas divide to receive news of my home town and more particularly of my own home people. H.J. Norris more familiarly known to us as "Nanny" comes from Lismore (he is the Dr's. orderly) and he received a large bundle of papers the "Northern Star" among them and I spent quite a long time reading about Lismore's doings. I learnt quite a lot about people I knew and was transported home again in thought for several hours.
Still about intimate friends they could tell me nothing I didn't know. Mother's weekly budget keeps me well up in this and home news and is far more graphic and interesting.
Mother appears to retain such vivid recollections of the wonders of London, The Tower, St. Paul's &c. that I regret that I did not write more about them. I could have enlarged upon them at will as they are full of wonders but to do so now would be a real post mortem and I would probably repeat myself in many points.
London by night made the greatest impression on my memory this last visit. Since my former visit the lights every where had been considerably obscured and the whole place was infinitely darker and more dingy by night. It is especially noticeable after coming out of a theatre or any other brilliantly lighted building. One steps from a comfortable dazzling interior into an inky blackness filled with a jumbled din of

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sound - the dominant notes being the "Toot toot" of the motor buses and taxi cabs and the shrill whistles of attendants calling up the latter. Great luminous eyes dart every where and bear down on one with marvellous swiftness. An occasional lamp post dots the street but they only shed sufficient radiance to throw a small circles of light round their foot which only serves to deepen by contrast the surrounding gloom.
It is a real puzzle to find one's way about. The only way I managed was to make my way to the nearest policeman and ask him what bus I should catch to get to such and such a place. The reply is often rather puzzling and something like this "First turn to the right, then second on the left, then third to the right, and you are on the Strand, take No. 1 A bus going South" rapped out at a great speed. The numbers on the buses are lighted up so they are easily distinguished but the turns enumerated take finding also it is not very easy to find North from South. I always make sure by hunting up another policeman.
The London policeman is a fine specimen of manhood. They are all fine looking men and most agreeable. I marvel how they manage to remember all the turnings &c. in giving directions and although I must have enquired from as many as a dozen a day I have never succeeded in puzzling any of them. And some of the

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questions the soldiers put to them are none too easy but they manage to direct them all.
For instance I met two friends of mine roaming around looking for their boarding house. They had forgotten the name of the house and of the street in which it stood but had a slight idea of the neighbourhood in which it was situated. I trotted them off to the nearest policeman and as I anticipated he solved the difficulty. He named several boarding houses round about and my friends recognised theirs.
Other unique characteristics of London are the Motor-buses - which quite supercede trams and run everywhere - and the tube railways. Half London is said to be travelling underground at all times. I think I exhausted these subjects in my previous letters.

To come back to home - what a nuisance - Tommy workmen have been renovating our hut for the past few days. We had to turn everything upside down to suit their convenience whilst they recovered the walls up to five feet from the floor with galvanised iron and painted it. I couldn't find a clear space to sit down at to finish this letter and as a consequence it is now the 10th (Friday). We have had six patients quartered in our hut too during this week and they require a good deal of attention. Bronchitis is very prevalent in the camp just now and three of our five detail are suffering from it.
Well I daresay it will be very nigh Xmas when you

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receive this letter and I wish you all a very happy Xmas. I would have liked to get you and father some little thing just as a token of the times but I could not hit on anything suitable.
I did think of getting my photo taken in London as I knew that would please you should it turn out well but the time to return to camp was up before I discovered a decent photographer. I sent Kit a little brooch which I hope she will like. It rather took my fancy although the colours are somewhat sombre.
I suppose you will have Douglas home and he will brighten things up considerably. The house must seem rather lonely with only Kit at home. I trust father is keeping well and has not had any further attacks.
Give Aunt Kate and Uncle Vesey my best wishes for a happy Xmas and prosperous New Year. Also remember me to Tare and Peg and I trust they will declare a peace for Xmas & New Year's Day.
Your loving Son
Eugene.

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Camp No. 21 Larkhill.
Wednesday 15th. November 1916

My dear Parents/.
I received two more letters from home this week dated the 16th. and 23rd. September packed with interesting home news.
The Cpl. Fred Clark and I have promising ourselves a bike ride together since we landed in England and last Saturday our wish was fulfilled. We succeeded in procuring two bicycles from the Signallers on the pretence of attending a lecture at the 9th. Field Ambulance and we took a spin to Salisbury.
The roads are ideal for biking and we had a most enjoyable afternoon. It was about five O'clock when we reached there and consequently nearly dark so we decided to spend the night. We left our bikes in an old shop on the outskirts of town and then fossicked out a "Soldiers Rest" at which to stay. It was an old church converted into a soldier's restaurant and boarding establishment. The beds consisted of a mattress placed on chairs facing one another and a couple of very old blankets which felt as if they hadn't been aired for a year and slept in every night. It suited us alright anyhow and was just as comfortable as our camp quarters.
Salisbury is a very old town all the buildings being exceedingly

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ancient. The streets wind and twirl about in the most devious ways resembling the course of a river more than a street. Peculiar little byways too frequently connect one street with another. The market place and several other streets were packed with booths where the country people were marketing their wares.
When we had roamed about for a quarter of an hour we had no idea of where our boarding house was and it was only after making several enquiries that we succeeded in locating it.
We went through the Salisbury Cathedral next day. It is a wonderful piece of work and the interior is beautifully ornamented.
Last Monday we had to turn out to a Divisional Inspection. The Division had to be complete in every particular including transport, Field Artillery, and Field Ambulance, and each man fully equiped carrying his kit packed for the front. We went about eighteen miles bumping our blueys all the way. I can assure you we were thoroughly exhausted by the time it was over. All the Heads of Division were out to inspect us so we had to be constantly marching at attention.
I received a letter from Mr. Sheridan yesterday stating that he would be out at Larkhill and would look me up on Monday. Unfortunately it was the day on which we were all out and also I did not receive the letter till the day after - Tuesday. It was written in plenty of time on the 10th. but must have been delayed

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in Head Quarters. I wrote to him regretting my absence.
I met Cecil Bentley and Bogle last week and had a long yarn to them. Cecil is looking very well and is at present attached to some training battalion here as is also Bogle. Cecil is a sergeant pro-temp but will probably lose his stripes when he ceases instructing recruits and is included in some of the units for the front. At least so he led me to believe.
To-night is pay night and I must now wind this up or else miss my pay or to-morrows mail.
With best love to all from
Your loving Son
Eugene.

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Saturday (date blanked out by censor)
Somewhere in France.

My Dear Parents:-
We have arrived here at last and are now settled in billets some miles from the front. We left (censored) on Tuesday morning early and arrived at (censored) .ampton before dinner after an uneventful journey. We loafed about the wharf all day until night when we packed aboard a transport and when we awoke in the morning we were in harbour. We all had to carry two blankets and a waterproof in addition to our ordinary pack containing our

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clothes and overcoat and our equipment waterbottle, messtin, steel helmet, dressing box, haversack and two gas helmets. We looked like a lot of pack mules. I am sure our clothes must have weighed at least half as heavy as ourselves. We are all issued with sheepskin vests and clothed in these and our steel helmets we looked like a troop of chinamen. Once our packs were off we had no hope of swinging them onto our backs again unaided. Another man had to hold them up until we climbed through the

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straps.
Our march through the streets to our temporary billets was very interesting. On every side we were confronted with something new. The different signs on the shops were a constant source of interest and I cudgelled my brains in an endeavour to decipher or rather interpret them. I am forgetting however our long train journey. We were all packed in covered trucks but managed to make ourselves more comfortable on the floor than if there had been seats. We were in the guards van for a portion of the way and I tackled the

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conductor with some of my pigeon french. He was a very intelligent man and managed to understand and as he spoke a few words of English himself, we succeeded in understanding each other and then we commenced a real English - french lesson. I learnt quite a lot of french from him more particularly in the way of pronunciation and in return I taught him a little more English.
Several notices which have puzzled me in the street I referred to him and he

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succeeded in interpreting them for me. Our chief trouble was "Defense D'afficher". This
notice confronted us on all sides as one passed through the streets and we had quite settled amongst ourselves that it meant "Do not spit". My frenchman explained by gestures that it meant "Stick no bills".
All along the route we were beset by little french children crying "Souvenir! souvenir" or "penny! penny!" in shrill voices. They reaped a good harvest of pennies too. We were delighted to

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find wherever we stopped the night our old friends the Y.M.C.A. so that we could buy food with our own money without fear of being defrauded. On the wharf where we landed from the transport there was a small refreshment booth run by these ladies.
I induced my friend to ask for his tea in french by telling him that they did not understand english. I told him a cup of tea was "un tasse du thé". He went boldly up and said "Give me two "un tasse du thé, please"

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the lady turned to me with a smile and said "what does he want?" "Oh" I said "he doesn't speak English too well, he's a Fijian." "He wants two cups of tea". Of course my friend was greatly discomforted but soon put things right in his mother tongue.
Another rather amusing incident occurred in our billets here. I saw a typical frenchman standing in the doorway of the kitchen and after rehearsing a few french phrases I approached him rather gingerly and began firing them off at him. However they hadn't the slightest

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effect upon and he remained standing there gazing at me like a wooden image. I cut out the finer phrases then and simply asked in french if I could buy some bread and butter from him. This had no effect either for a while and then he said in perfect English "Speak english please." Since this rebuff I haven't been so confident of the correctness of my french pronunciation.
Another case in which I failed utterly was during one of our spells in the streets. A small youngster capered in front of me and shrieked

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"Francois Josef est mort." It is plain enough written but when yelled at me in his accent he completely bamboozled me. Seeing that I was dumfounded he seized a paper and pointing to a picture of the late emperor of Austria he stabbed it through with a penknife. There was no mistaking his meaning then. I bought a couple of french papers and am forwarding them to you. They will probably be of interest to Miss Magner too.

Another peculiar feature here are the drays. Most of them are three wheeled, two at the back and one in front to which the shafts

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are attached. Others have a windlass in front and their back lowers to the ground, the rope is attached to the load and it is wound onto the cart by means of the windlass.
None of us have been out of our clothes for three days and most of us are unshaven. We look for all the world like those drawings of Bainsfather's. We have christened the Dr's Orderly Alf the Sea lion. He is the image of that personality when unshaven for a few days.

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I am in perfect health & enjoying my "Tour du Monde" immensely.
With best wishes to all at home & next door
Your loving Son
Eugene.

[Page 180]

France,
November 1916

My Dear Parents/.
Since my last hurried note from our billets we have been through a weeks fighting in the trenches.
[6 lines blacked out by censor]
Every few minutes I was expecting to hear bullets singing overhead and was inclined to duck my head at every opening. I was immediately preceded by our Corporal and I chivied him so much - by pushing him in the back to make him run at every opening, and admonishing him for holding his head high at the low portions of the parapet - that I worked him up to a high state of nervousness and when I finally hit his steel helmet with a pebble he was certain a bullet had struck it. This amused the rest of us and prevented us from realising our own danger. After (Single word blacked out by censor).. tortuous windings we at

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[Two lines blacked out by censor]
A band of Tommies were in possession but they were most hospitable and we soon made ourselves at home with them. We found them most amusing indeed, and as most of them were old warriors who had seen service all over France they were able to spin some very interesting yarns.
Since seeing the Tommies in the trenches my opinion of them has entirely changed. They had to initiate our boys into their new duties and the kindly and brotherly interest they manifested in them was a lesson to us.
They are good tempered and generous to a degree and ever ready to share whatever they have with a less fortunate comrade. As they have all seen considerable service I suppose continual hardships have made their impression on their characters and taught them to always assist and help their comrades. Whenever any of our boys were wounded, which fortunately was not often, a Tommy would accompany them down to our Aid Post and wait to see him receive

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attention.
The front on which we are stationed at present is very quiet indeed. To have any casualties at all among the men is unusual. During the week we had very few amongst our battalion and those we did have were what the Tommies call "Cushy Blighty wounds" i.e. slight wounds but sufficiently bad to warrant a return to hospital in England. They are very envious of anyone receiving a Blighty wound because it means a spell in England.

Our dug out is I am glad to say at a safe distance from the firing line, but at night a few bullets whiz around and then we are snugly ensconced in our cosy corner. Whenever there is a casualty it seems to occur at the worst possible time about 2 O'clock at night and then two of us have to hop out of our blankets to attend to him. The dressings we apply are very elementary, generally iodine and a bandage and then off goes the patient by
[words blacked out by censor]
to their dressing station. In most cases they are not with us more than ten minutes, any operations &c being done further back at the hospital.

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Another part of our work is to go round the wells each and test and purify the water. This is a very unenviable job in this climate as the pumps are generally frozen up and we have an hour's work clearing out the ice before we can pump up the water to test it. All the water under the duck walks in the trenches are frozen over too and ones hand and feet almost drop off after being in the trenches any length of time.
The infantry men who put in all their time there swathe their feet and legs in bagging and they look for all the world like a colony of penguins. I could get some very comical snaps if only I had my camera. Of course, they are "taboo" in France.
The men are like a colony of rats when in their dug outs. The openings are very small and one has to crawl in and out but most of them manage to keep a fire going and as they are closely packed together they make quite a cozy retreat. It is a real undertaking to find anyone you may want. One has to go along the trench poking one's head into the various nests

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inquiring for so and so and it takes ten minutes to find him when he is only thirty yards away. Of course pumps are going the whole time to keep the dug outs and trenches as dry as possible. All of us have been issued with rubber-boots extending right up to the thigh and mackintosh capes so that now we are almost impervious to cold. What with our cardigans, balaclava caps, sheepskin vests, raincoats and mackintoshs, in addition, we look like to our ordinary clothes, we look as broad as we are long and I am sure our clothes and kit would outweigh ourselves naked.

Fritz as our men affectionately call him appears to be very short of shells. Although our big guns pound him all day he seldom condescends to reply. I often wonder if ours do any material damage.
At night is the only time things liven up on the front. Neither side dare show a head over the parapet all day long but at night parties go out from either side into no-man's land and endeavour to ascertain the strength of their opponent's defenses.
The machine guns open up then too and play

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with full vigour on "no man's land" and the opposing trenches. Star shells go up every minute or so and light the whole place like day and their flare is accompanied by a fusilade of bullets. During these flares the men in no mans land "freeze" i.e. remain stock still and then they are unnoticed. Generally they [Two lines blacked out by censor] the German lines, and remain hidden there listening to the movements of the enemy. From this they can judge the strength of the enemy, and the position of his machine guns, and whether he is preparing for any big move.
Of course perfect silence is necessary in these posts or else they will be discovered. One of our men was in a listening post with a Tommy on our second night at the front. He coughed and immediately there was a report and our man was wounded in the arm the bullet going right through his arm and it lodged in the Tommie's hip. Both of them

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managed to get back to the trenches, and they are, according to the Tommie's version exceedingly lucky, as they will now spend Xmas in Blighty.
The cold here was too severe for one of our men Jack Warne and he has been sent to Hospital. He was far from well ever since we landed here and last week he contracted a heavy cold and had to remain in bed. Finding he wasn't improving under our care the doctor sent him to hospital and we have not heard from him since. We were all very sorry to lose him as he was one of the best workers on the detail. We are hoping to have him back with us soon.
(two lines blacked out by censor).... We have been in one of these billets for the last five days and are very comfortable indeed. Arrangements are made for everyone to have a warm bath while here and one may turn in all one's soiled under clothes and receive clean in exchange. While in the bath one's tunic and pants are ironed along the seams to kill the chats. After doing a week without ever taking more than one's boots

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off a bath and a change are a rare relish.
We witnessed some fine aerial duels whilst the weather was fine. First one hears the buzz of an engine and looking up some of our Aeroplanes can be seen making for the German lines. Before they get anywhere near them the Anti-aircraft guns open fire and one can see
puffs of smoke bursting out of the heavens all round the 'planes. It is shrapnel and how the aeroplane escapes is marvellous.
On several occasions I have seen our planes surrounded by these bursts and still they glide tranquilly along way up in the heavens without the slightest deviation from their course. I haven't seen one brought down yet.
Well I am afraid I am here for the duration of the war now. The men whom we relieved as A.M.C. detail had been right through the thickest of the fray in all parts of France and, none of them have been wounded. It is an unheard of thing for an A.M.C. man to be wounded on the front so I am quite safe as long as we remain here but have no prospects of seeing Blighty or Australia until we knock out Kaiser Bill

[Page 188]

It is pitiful to see the state of La pauvre France. We passed through several large towns on our way here and they are a mass of ruins. Any high steeples and towers have been made special marks and are now crumbled ruins. I saw several beautiful churches in ruins. Their belfries generally tower high above the other buildings and that is I suppose why they always suffer.
Going through France one can hardly credit that it is such a home of iniquity. Numbers of houses in all the towns through which we passed have small shrines to "the Sacred Heart" or the Blessed Virgin or some other saint built into the wall and all of them have some holy image in a prominent position inside, the few shops too which remain open are replete with religious relics.
I raked around one of the damaged churches in search of a fragment of the stained glass windows but although they were smashed to atoms I was unsuccessful in finding even the smallest particle.

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As the sick parade is coming down (one line blacked out by censor)... present abode) I must draw this to a close. There were (one word blacked out by censor).. on the parade yesterday and this ( one line blacked out by censor)...
With the best of wishes for the new year and love to all at home and next door
Your loving son
Eugene.

P.S. I received the parcel with the knee pads, soap and tinned Paté and it was very welcome. The soap was particularly useful and the paste was delicious and a welcome change from bread and jam. The photo of Kit was a very good one. She no longer looks like a flapper and has developed into quite a handsome young lady. I also received Aunt Kate's note and was glad to hear that they are all well. I submitted it to our interpreter but he said he didn't think it was French although it might be the patois of some of the country centres.
Tell her it as much as I can do to get off

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the weekly letter home or I would write to herself or Vesey. Anyhow I suppose they get all the news I have from you.
As we are constantly on the move I can't say when I will manage to write another letter but will try and send Active Service cards when unable to write.
Address the same as before with the addition of France if you like it is unaltered.
No.1515 Pte. Eugene Sullivan A.M.C. Detail
(Blacked out by censor)....
I have just heard that I can't put this full address but you already know it.

[Page 191]

France,
28th. December 1916
Note: Australian War Chest Committee.

My dear Parents/.
I spent a very quiet Xmas in Billets. Each of us received a small packet containing a tooth brush & paste, two handkerchiefs, two packets of Lollies, two packets of cigarettes, two boxes of matches and half a dozen post cards. These were supplied by the Australian War Chest Committee and each soldier received one packet. The military also supplied a tinned plum duff each so we didn't do too bad. Each of us had also received a Xmas parcel which we had saved up for the occasion.
The inhabitants of the town are great churchgoers. All Xmas day from Midnight to midday they were streaming too and fro past our door on the way to the Cathedral.
I went to an early Mass myself and was

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deeply struck by the number of women in mourning. The church was packed with women swathed in long black veils completely obscuring the face.
The chairs one kneels on are very uncomfortable. One kneels on the seat and leans on the back which is made high for the purpose and when the time comes this causes a most distracting din. An old sexton decked out most gorgeously paces up and down the church and keeps the chairs in some sort of order. He is got up exactly like the beafeaters in the Tower of London even down to the war medals and his distaff is exactly like their spears halberts). Otherwise of course it was exactly the same as if I was attending mass in Australia.
We were billetted in the front room of a very fine house. It was a very small room but very cosy and light, as it had two large windows - true french style opening on to the street.

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The owner of the house and his wife occupied the rest of the house and more especially the room opposite ours. This was the living room and they appeared to spend all their time in it. The old gent is like Mr. Bentley in appearance but he is a victim of rheumatism and can only waddle along like a duck. At the least He couldn't speak any word of English and was quite impervious to my attempts at French so that we were placed in an awkward predicament when we wished to communicate with one another. I must mention here in justification of my own prowess that my French goes down quite well with some of the inhabitants. I think this old gent is too numb in the skull to understand anything but perfect french. Anyhow whenever we made the least noise he would come hobbling out of his den and poke his head in to see that we were not damaging his house. It was like a show

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of dumb crambo endeavouring to interpret his signs. In the morning he would greet us with his hands placed together and his head laid on them, eyes closed and say "Bon" meaning to inquire as to whether we had slept well. He had an English - French dictionary by the aid of which he endeavoured to elucidate some of his language but this wasn't altogether successful. For instance after failing to make us understand what he required by signs on one occasion he retired into his den and after about half-an-hour issued forth bearing the following epistle carefully written on a slip of paper "Make attention Ironwork". He was greatly surprised when we didn't understand this but by the aid of his signs we made out that what he really meant was "Take care not to scratch the paint". There was no ironwork in the room.

[Page 195]

Winter has now set in with a vengeance and the cold is excruciating. It is simply impossible to keep one's feet warm and the men suffer a good deal from them - numbers having congested feet and chilblains. Everyone is issued with whale oil and a frequent application of this with plenty of elbow grease prevents trench feet but does not prevent my feet from freezing all day. I dread putting on my boots in the morning as they immediately freeze my feet and they remain numb until I thaw them out at night with the whale oil. If one could only get boots composed of something warmer than leather it would give one's feet a chance.
Australia will be quite good enough for me after the war. If I do any more travelling round I will take care that it is to some place within the tropics.

[Page 196]

I would give anything for a good Australian Summer's day. I think I could relish any amount of heat now.
I am forwarding with this letter a small packet containing a small bracelet for pet, and two small brooches for mother. One is our battalion badge with the motto "Strike hard" underneath. I intended sending it with my last letter but could not get it away at the time.

We frequently witness exciting aerial duels between artillery and aeroplanes. The shrapnel can be plainly seen bursting about the 'plane but although I have frequently seen 'planes surrounded by countless some of which appeared to be certain hits I have not seen a 'plane brought down. The shelling has the effect of frightening them off anyhow and keeps them from venturing too close.

[Page 197]

Peace appears to be somewhere in sight now and in all probability I will spend next Xmas at home again.
I can't tell half the items of interest on account of the censor but I will certainly have plenty of interesting things to tell you when I return.
With best love to all at home & next door.
Your loving Son,
Eugene.

[Page 198]

France,
Saturday, 29th. January 1917.

My dear Parents/.
The books mother sent me came to hand safely and I was delighted to received them. They are what I appreciate most just now but if you could post one now and again it would suit me better. As we are constantly on the move and have to carry all our own belongings it is difficult to keep more than what is absolutely indispensable. Hence it takes a lot of squeezing to get even one book in.
I purchased "Micah Clark" by A. Conan Doyle about a month ago and had just finished it

[Page 199]

when mother's parcel arrived. It is very like one of Scott's Historical novels and entirely foreign to Conan Doyle's usual style - but nevertheless I enjoyed it very much. The theme is Monmouth's rising in England during the reign of James II and the scenes are laid about Salisbury plains - where we were camped in England.
Most of the taverns mentioned and, of course, Salisbury Cathedral, are quite familiar to me and I daresay have not changed one whit. Of course with reference to the inns it is only their names and exterior which are familiar I cannot speak as to the interior.
Among such a feast of literature as arrived I was puzzled

[Page 200]

as to which I should begin on. In the end I read the preface to each and then settled down to the "Scarlet Letter." The prologue on the "Custom's House" proved too much for me, but when I tackled the real story I soon became interested and am now half way through it. Just at present I have plenty of time for reading but that won't last long.
Truly one leads a precarious and very varied life in the Military. Only the other day (I have to be vague) I was living in an old hut without a floor and dripping at the roof and it was a real feat to walk outside as the mud was ankle deep and

[Page 201]

moist and slippery. Once I ventured outside it meant wet feet for the rest of the day. Now I am surrounded by every luxury of home life. At present I am writing at a fine oaken table by the light of a lamp of latest pattern, before a blazing wood fire. The kettle is singing on the stove, and our cupboard is replete with stores. Here is a tin of Wee Macgregor Butterscotch and a packet of Cadbury's chocolate on the table - just arrived from the Citizen's War Chest Fund - also several tins of tobacco and a dozen boxes of cigarettes. This is the kitchen. Upstairs the Dispensary - more like a drawing room - is replete with furniture - of a good

[Page 202]

type too - and has its wood fire. Before the fireplace is a plush velvet settee and the room also boasts two wicker arm chairs and a roll top desk - best English?oak. Facing the door is a bust of Mozart life-size. Unfortunately he has been decapitated by a fall and his head now sits very unsteadily on his shoulders. On another pedestal is a fine vase - china as fine s paper - and as frail as an eggshell. There are far more chairs and tables than we know what to do with and some are being used for fire wood. We have real china in abundance for our dinner table - the only drawback being that instead of cups there are the usual french

[Page 203]

bowls - holding no more than a saucer. There are also some fine pictures - some photographs on glass framed by coloured leaded glass - and a particularly fine statuette of an equestrian warrior in bronze such as is frequently seen adorning a mantel piece. I don't mean bronze after the style of those Douglas purchased for you. We have fine mattresses to sleep on just like a couch - your box one for choice - all springs covered by a little padding and cloth.
Large mirrors are in each of the rooms two to three in some of them.
The inhabitants of this quarter must have left in a great hurry. All the houses are the same - stock full of furniture and household effects. The street too is

[Page 204]

littered with debris - much of it composed of valuable articles.
I was always most anxious to see snow but during the last week I have seen enough to t more than satisfy my desires. The ground is covered ankle deep with it and everything one touches outside is frozen hard.
I have received a couple of letters from Stirling stating that he is doing well. I also received another letter from Fanny Sullivan, Aunt Fanny I suppose I should say.
I have been receiving the papers regularly and they are a great source of interest to me.

[Page 205]

I am enjoying the best of health and am at present most comfortable.
With best love to all
Your loving son, Eugene.

[Page 206]

2nd. February '17.

Dear Mother/.
We are having a spell in billets again now so I have at length an opportunity of writing you a long letter in answer to your last two.
I sent a couple of active service Post cards as I was unable to write the last two weeks to let you know I was well. I was more than pleased to receive a photo of you although as you say you don't look quite yourself. I am looking forward to receiving more of the family and a more faithful likeness of yourself. Douglas's photo was missing from your letter although you mentioned sending it. Yours is indeed a great libel on

[Page 207]

you but I will keep it as hostage until you send a better one which I hope will be before long. I have no doubt it will require some strategy to snap father but Kit ought to be fly enough. It is most refreshing to receive news of Douglas. He is still forging ahead and is constantly giving evidence of his capabilities and reliability.
Poor old Kevin seems to be ever on the balance and the least thing turns the scales. We can only hope that the right side will over balance the wrong in the end. Given sufficient constancy and grit he might still accomplish much but without these all his capabilities and genius are wasted.

[Page 208]

Does the fact that Douglas's acting as Judge's Associate mean that he is definitely settling down to the idea of studying for the bar. The sooner he decides on some definite course of study in which to specialise the greater will be his opportunities. Of course his present work and splendid education will always stand to him. Little did I think when fagging french for the Junior and Matric that it would ever be of any use to me, but now I think it comes in very convenient. Some of the boys here are doing their utmost trying to pick it up but whilst they have to labour over the verbs and the different tenses &c the same came quite easily to me although

[Page 209]

some of them need refreshing.
I had a pleasant surprise yesterday when half-a-dozen parcels arrived for me from Lismore packed with goodies. One from yourself, one from Aunt Kate, Annie McDermott, Katie Chisholm, Rita Bentley. Although they did not reach here for Xmas they arrived at a very opportune time and we will have a right royal week in billets. The sweets &c. are most welcome in this cold weather and must be very beneficial in supplying heat to the body.
I was for a long time most anxious to see snow and revel in snowball fights, &c. Pictures of such things in Xmas Annuals always made me envious.

[Page 210]

Now I have had my fill. I have seen all the ice and snow that I want to see for the rest of my life. Everything here is frozen and the only thing that keeps us alive is a fire. Our towels are frozen stiff and hard in the mornings when we go to use them, also our sponges, nail and tooth brushes. All the water is in blocks of ice & has to be thawed out and most of the medicines too, are in solid form. Several of them have broken the bottles but being solid they did not spill and we were able to melt them down and pour them into fresh bottles without losing any. Even warm water spilt on the floor or left in a bowl is ice in a few minutes. At meals even the bread is frozen and

[Page 211]

has to be put on the fire for a while before we can cut it.
My balaclava cap is all ice round the mouth where my breath lodges and the blankets at night are stiff with ice round the top from the same reason. Our present billet is a room about 60 ft. long by 20 ft. broad and the ceiling is some 30 ft. high, and it has two large windows reaching from the ceiling to the floor and occupying at least half the width, neither of which have more than fourteen whole panes out of twenty eight each. The floor is cement. We can't complain about being cramped as there are only the six of us in this immense place but it is absolutely impossible to warm it up at all. Fortunately

[Page 212]

we have a brazier with a blazing fire going in it all day and by sittiing almost on top of it we are able to keep warm. Without the fire I don't think any of us would survive the cold. The French people tell us it is the coldest winter they have experienced in twenty five years.
Our tea was brought in steaming hot to-night & after filling our mess tins and placing them round the fire we put the dixie on one side and by the time we had finished tea the remnant in the dixie was frozen over.
Yesterday I was watching an old man opposite chipping the ice off the stone floor in the hall. He had a kettle of hot water and

[Page 213]

was pouring it on to thaw out the ice. It worked all right on the first spot he tackled but by the time he got to the surrounding parts the warm water had frozen on top of the rest and given him twice the work.
Fred Clark - the Corporal - has just brought in the sheepskin vest you sent through Farmers and four papers - one a Sydney Mail Nov. 29 & the rest local papers. The vest will be most welcome and could not have arrived at a more opportune time. It is very warm and light into the bargain. I have plenty of warm clothes now and really want for nothing in that line.

[Page 214]

The only things I have any use for are a few more pair of socks. I feel the cold most on the hands and I have three or four pairs of very warm mits. I am sorry I can't find more interesting news than our own discomforts from the weather conditions but every thing else is taboo. I will be able to make up for it with interest if I am spared to return.
Military life in France under any conditions is hard to endure, but after 16 months experience I am satisfied that (just by chance) I have secured the pick job in the army. There are a few better, easier, & safer but not very many.

[Page 215]

Of course we have our busy times - after a raid for instance. - (After the last one we were working over mangled humanity 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.) But in between times we have all kinds of comforts which the infantry are denied and just sufficient work to keep time from hanging on our hands. We are kept going giving medicines and treating wounds but that isn't work compared to digging trenches, laying duck-boards &c.
Our work too is twice as hard as that of the Field Ambulances so if you know of anyone wanting an easy job advise them to join the A.M.C. &

[Page 216]

get attached to a Field Ambulance.
I received a very nice letter from Kate Chisholm and will endeavour to reply but you know what a poor correspondent I am. Excuse the scrawl. Only for the fire I couldn't write at all and as it is I have to hold my hand to the blaze every few minutes to warm it sufficiently to
hold the pencil.
Your loving Son
Eugene.

P.S. I am sending a few holy pictures which appealed to me. They were scattered about with



[Page 217]

a lot of literature in one of our billets and I thought it would be a pity to leave them to destruction.
Eugene.

[Page 218]

France
Monday 12th. February '17.

My dear Parents/.
Since last writing I have received five very interesting letters from home, one from father dated 15th. Decr. and four from mother rangeing from the 12th. to the 17th. Decr. So Douglas has been home for another vacation. He must brighten things up a great deal for you now that the family is so small. From all accounts though Kit seems to keep up a fair round of entertainment.

[Page 219]

Amongst mother's letters was one in dairy [diary] form. I am sorry to say my attempt to do likewise did not last very long but I will endeavour to recommence it, spurred on by your example. At present our battalion is out of the actual firing line so we have very few wounded cases, but on these occasions the ordinary sick increase to almost treble the number who come for treatment (other than wounded). At present we are back in our old comfortable quarters which I described to you in a preceding

[Page 220]

letter. The weather has been behaving itself a little better lately and the medicines &c have thawed out. The snow on the ground is commencing to melt and the river has partially thawed, the ice now being too thin to walk on.
We might be hundred of miles away from the firing line for all the evidences of war we see here. We are reminded of its proximity however every now and then by the intermittent boom of the guns at the front or the continuous roar when a strafe is taking place.

[Page 221]

Now and again, too, an inquisitive enemy plane ventures over our camp, at a great altitude, to have a pry round and the quietude is broken by the sharp bark of anti-aircraft guns which spring into sudden life and announce themselves by bursts of flame in all sorts of unexpected places. They are all wonderfully concealed. They generally succeed in frightening the maurauder off but seldom damage him.
At night is the time when things really liven up on the front. A few nights ago I heard a particularly

[Page 222]

heavy bombardment so I went upstairs to see what was doing. The bombardment was some distance off and the whole horizon was lit up with continuous flickering lights like Summer lightning, and numerous star shells were soaring into the heavens like rockets and then bursting into flares and lighting the whole countryside with a ghastly radiance.
Some seemed to hang suspended in the air for several seconds as if attached to a parachute. Others do not flare up until they reach the ground. Then the majority are like fiery head serpents - they dart into the air then rush hissing

[Page 223]

through space until they fall at length exhausted.. The whole scene is weirdly picturesque and most impressing. During the least intermission in the roar of the big guns the staccato pop-pop-pop of the machine guns breaks through the din, and at some parts a searchlight sweeps o'er the scene but the star shells pale even its light. A spectator marvels how anyone can live through such an inferno but in reality the loss of human life is very small in proportion to the expenditure of shot and shell.

[Page 224]

If it was are would be impossible.
I have exhausted my slender stock of unimportant news but will write again soon.
I am quite well and enjoying perfect health.
With love to all at home & next door
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 225]

Wednesday, 21st. February '17.
My Dear Parents/.
At length I begin, or rather recommence, my daily notes of events.
To-day was very mild and misty. Everywhere the ice is thawing and the snow melting on the ground. Outside the place is a slop of mud and to make matter worse it is drizzling rain. It is a great relief to be over the worst of the winter but I am afraid we will have more cold weather yet as I am told by some of the inhabitants that March is a month of cold winds.
The thaw has its disadvantages more especially to the infantry. The trenches in some places have fallen in and work on them which has been held up for months owing to the hardness

[Page 226]

of the frozen ground has now been put in hand. The dugouts, too, which were nice and dry during the cold weather, have once more become mud holes.
No-man's land is again a slimy muddy horror through which the scouts have to squirm their way on their stomachs and almost swim through shell holes. They return in the grey dawn looking like worms, simply encased in mud, and like them, they leave a fresh pile of earth on the ground, after scraping their clothes, before burrowing below the surface again, into their dugouts where they remain till the ensuring night, when they once more emerge to crawl through the mere. Their job is by no means an enviable one this weather, although they escape all fatigues, which are the bug bear of the infantry man.

[Page 227]

This morning the Corporal and I went round the wells for the first time for some days. We used to go round each morning and always found them ice bound and and as all our efforts to thaw the pumps out were unavailing we abandoned our rounds. We received word yesterday that they had thawed so had to recommence our testing &c. Things are very quiet on the lines and we had nothing to scare us. Fritz's snipers were busy and a few bullets whistled over our heads but not very close.

Thursday. One of our hobbies is collecting souvenirs and as we are all anxious to secure them there is a considerable amount of rivalry between us. Every morning we make a search round the brick walls at the back of our dugout for shell nose-caps and machine-gun bullets.

[Page 228]

Fritz's bullets are copper coated and look very nice polished and the others have all sorts of schemes for making ornaments out of them. Personally I have all I want, that is one of each, rifle and machine gun. Some of the nose caps are rather nice with their different rings of steel and copper and markings for regulating the fuse, but they are too heavy to carry about with one and their weight debars one from posting them. One of Fritz's latest and deadliest bombs known as the pineapple is rather unique. I say bomb but it is really a rifle grenade and is furnished with four fins something like this:- [sketch] I have secured portion of one but it is also fairly weighty and probably I will have to discard it later on.

[Page 229]

Friday:- This afternoon when returning from a message I met one of our Sniper's named Martyn limping from the trenches and headed for our Aid Post. As he was covered in mud from head to foot and looked about all in I accosted him and asked what was the matter and he told me the following story. The day was very misty and he could not see more than fifty yards or so. He had gone out into no-man's land to reconnoitre, and, finding the mist concealed his movements, he had crawled right up to and through several portions of Fritz's entanglements, when suddenly the mist lifted. To his horror he found he was no more than fifteen yards from Fritz's front line in broad daylight. He ensconced himself in a small depression and anxiously awaited

[Page 230]

developments.
In a few minutes he saw a head showing over the parapet some distance to his right and taking careful aim he fired. The head disappeared immediately and judging by the babble of voices which came from the spot his shot must have been effective. Soon another German appears and commences to scan no-man's land but our friend picks him off before he has located his position. After considerable jabbering another German appears and sees Martyn almost immediately and excitedly commences to point him out to a machine gunner, but he meets with a similar fate to his compatriots at the hands of our sniper and tumbles backwards with a bullet through the brain.
The machine gunner has meanwhile sighted him and

[Page 231]

commenced to send a hail of bullets in his direction, but by the time he had traversed across his position three time Martyn shot him also.
A Fritz then hopped over the parapet and concealed himself behind a thick patch of barbed wire. In the meantime Martyn had been gradually worming his way backwards. He noted the spot where Fritz was hidden but was unable to see him sufficiently to fire with any certainty. Presently Fritz hopped up and let fly a bomb and simultaneously Martyn fired and Fritz flung up his hands and collapsed.
Without waiting any longer Martyn sprang up and ran for his life along a small gulley leading to our lines. Fritz followed him up with a rain of bombs, rifle grenades and

[Page 232]

bullets but marvellous to relate he escaped unscathed. In his haste he dropped his rifle and tore one of his gum-boots off on the barbed wire slightly injuring his foot.
The second in command and another officer witnessed his bravery and he has been recommended for the D.C.M. He certainly earned a decoration. You will probably read of it
later on in the papers.
Saturday - Tuesday Could I relate some of the happenings during this time it would make most interesting reading but unfortunately I cannot do so. Probably you will read of it in the papers but it will convey nothing to you. Never mind the tale will keep and make all the better telling when linked to other exploits. Some of our Stretcher-bearers were

[Page 233]

mentioned in dispatches for their good work and they richly deserved it. The four bearers in question showed the utmost fearlessness and devotion to duty in removing wounded men under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. In fact all round the 33rd. Battalion are beginning to prove their worth and are recognised as the leading battalion in the Division.

Wednesday - Thursday We are still in billets and having an easy week. As I think I told you before I do not get on well with our M.O. and last night matters reached a climax and I applied for a transfer from the Battalion detail back to the 9th. Field Ambulance my original unit. Whether he will grant it

[Page 234]

or not is another matter but I will , if possible, force his hand. I will be exceedingly sorry to leave the battalion which I have been with right through and of whom I think a great deal, but I consider under present circumstances that I would be foolish to stay on.
I don't want you to suppose I am in a scrape or anything like that, it is solely on my own initiative that I am endeavouring to secure the transfer. I consider my reasons are ample but it would be unsafe to state them. I dare say you will be glad as I will run much less risk in the Ambulance. I must now close this long epistle for the present.
Your loving son,
Eugene.

[Page 235]

In the Trenches,
8th. March 1917.

My Dear Parents/.
I was delighted to receive two more letter from Mother to-day. Those proofs you enclosed of father are very good indeed and were not faded in the least. I am anxiously looking forward to receiving one of the photos. We will be leaving the trenches to-morrow for a short spell and a rumour is gaining credence that we will shortly receive London leave. I trust it may prove to be correct.
On the whole we have had a quiet time in the trenches this time. Fritz got a bit obstreperous to-day and began knocking our terrace of houses about but only one man was wounded and he only slightly.
I received a long letter from Stirl. during the week and also one from the Healy's renewing their invitation to Dublin. If this leave comes off I trust I may have the opportunity of accepting it. Their son Joe is a lieutenant with the A.S.C. somewhere in France. I also received a letter from Ossie Ellis, one of Stirl's friends whom I met in Sydney. He is now through his course as a doctor and has arrived at Salisbury Plains.

[Page 236]

Unfortunately the Corporal of our Detail got into trouble last week and is to be tried by Court Martial shortly. A great pal of his named Murray Sinclair is somewhere in France and Fred was most anxious to know his whereabouts so that he might visit him if possible. This led him to dot under certain letters in the letter so that they spelt out "we are in (name of town) where are you." He then enclosed the letter in a Green envelope and signed the statement on the envelope saying that it contained nothing but private and family affairs. The letter was opened by the Base Censor and sent back to our Battalion with the result that Fred is to stand his trial for breach of orders. He is sure to be stripped of his stripes and will probably also be heavily fined. It shows you how strict the military are in some things and yet others which seem twice as bad go practically unpunished.

Some of the french people amuse me very much and yet one can't help pitying them. When we were last billeted in town we were next door to an "egg and chip" house and the two young girls overran our house. They both spoke English fluently and one of them - the younger - was a real character and provided us with great amusement. Whenever at a loss to know your meaning their great phrase is "After the war" or the single word "Perhaps".
The mother speaks very little English but will always come out with a "Perhaps". Some mornings when we would go in for coffee, myself and friend -Jack Warne - would have a contest to see who could get "perrr-haps" out of her the most often. She told us

[Page 237]

she has lost six sons in the present war and the remaining boy is fighting on the Somme.
The only inhabitants left in any of these towns near the firing line run shops of some sort. Numbers run eating houses where the hungry soldier can satisfy his hunger on fried eggs and chips and coffee. It is invariably the same in them all. One can never get anything but fried eggs and chips and coffee the latter served in small bowl holding as much as a small afternoon-tea cup. They never think of offering poached or boiled eggs for a change and meat is out of the question. Others run the eternal "estaminet" and as always do a roaring trade although their hours for business are exceedingly short; 12 noon till 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. till 8 p.m.
Still more make money out of the troops by selling electric torches and trinkets and souvenirs of France. In fact nearly all the windows are crambed full of such trinkets and also cheap french watches. Beautiful faces with radium tipped hands and figures but scarcely any work. My word they are daylight robbers too and they recognise the Australians as good marks and fleece them right and left. The only way to secure anything at a reasonable price is to get a frenchman to purchase for you.
I must hastily conclude now in order to catch the mail.
Best of love
Eugene.

[Page 238]

France,
22nd March 1917.

My dear Parents,
You will be surprised to know that I received a sprig of shamrock for St. Patrick's Day. Francis Sullivan sent it to me. I received another letter from Mrs. Healy too, and also a very nice cake. She requests me to let her know of any little wants and she will be delighted to get them for me and at the same time she suggests sending a winter vest. I am writing to-night to inform her I am well equipped in that particular.
I am writing this while on sentry as gas picket. All along the trenches at regular intervals and at important centres are bells and trombos horns and conchs or empty shell cases. When cloud gas is detected by one of the sentries the trombos horn is sounded; In the case of shell gas the bell or shell case is rung. My shift to-night is from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. It gives me a good opportunity of getting off some letters.
We have discovered a new method of replenishing the larder: Shooting hares. Myself and Ellis borrow one of the patient's rifles and at dusk we take up position commanding a good view of the paddock in our rear. We have knocked four so far and they make a great dish.
Wouldn't old Fran like to be here ?
There is a rumour in the air that we are to receive Blighty leave shortly. If it proves to be correct I will visit the Healy's.
Trusting all at home are well
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 239]

France
29th.March 1917.

My dear Parents/.
Once more we are back in billets after another week in the trenches. Our Battalion suffered very few casualties this time.
Our present billets are in a deserted Herbalists shop. The front room is replete with shelves all packed with bottles and jars containing herbs and their extracts. The former occupants, judging by their stock, did an extensive business. The waste and destruction which meets one's gaze on all sides is appalling, and brings home to one the dreadful sacrifice made by the french in the present war.
I went to see the pictures and pierrots last night. It quite carries one back to home, packed in a crowded hall watching Charlie Chaplin and other picture celebrities. The pierrots are recruited from the different battalions and there are some really splendid singers and actors amongst them. When we came out we were surprised to see a Boche aeroplane hovering overhead at a great height. Our guns were barking incessantly and soon the shells began bursting all round him and the boche took to flight. It was just getting dusk at the time and I daresay the germans were trusting to find the guns deserted at that late hour - late for aerial work.
I am in the best of health and trust all at home are well. I have cut my finger slightly and am writing with it bound up hence the scrawl.
With best love to all
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 240]

France
16th. April 1917.

My dear Parents/.
As I stated in my last letter we have made another move and are now billeted in a country village out of hearing of the guns. It is a typical country village. All the houses look as if they had stood for centuries and many of them are on the point of falling to pieces. There is the usual church in the centre of the village with its spire dominating the countryside for miles, and the chiming of its bells seem to bring one back to civilisation and impress on one the peacefulness of the neighbourhood.
The troops are billeted in barns and sheds attached to different farmhouses along the road. As two companies are separated from the other two by a couple of miles Sgt. May and I have been sent to the neighbouring village to attend to their sick. We are very comfortably quartered in a small bare room with a stone floor opening off the kitchen in one of the farm houses. We secured a good supply of straw for our bed and have rigged up a makeshift table and generally made ourselves comfortable.
The farm is run by a young woman whose hubby is a prisoner of war in Germany. She has eight sheep, one goat and two kids, a few rabbits and fourteen fowls. Like most of the french populace in the towns occupied by the troops she augments her allowance by selling eggs and chips. She has one son, a youngster of four years.
Most of the french women are very industrious and do all the

[Page 241]

work of the farm themselves. I have seen numbers of very old women (whom one would expect to find in an arm chair croning over the fire) hoeing the ground, gathering and carrying large bundles of faggots for firewood or lumping sacks of potatoes and flour on their backs. Others, too, squatted on the floor of rickety old carts driving to or from market.
On the road here I saw an old man with snow white hair ploughing with an equally old horse. They understood each other perfectly; I think they must have grown old together.
The horse would slowly lift one leg and place it down again and slowly straighten it and the old man would take a tottering pace forward. Every few steps the horse would stop, and then slowly raising his whip the old man would give it a cut. After appearing to consider the insult for a few moments, and likewise giving the old man time to recover the handles of the plough, the horse would resume its staggering progress. Each step represented two distinct movements, one placing the foot on the ground and the next slowly straightening the leg. We were expecting the see the whole caboose, horse man and plough topple over at any minute. At their rate of progress when we saw them, I don't think they could possibly complete more than four furrows a day. It was a rather pathetic spectacle although of course it called forth howls of derision at the time.
It is quite a usual sight here to see the very old and very young, as also the women, assisting in the farm work. This is to be expected when one considers that the whole male population of eligible age have been called to the colours. I have frequently passed gangs of youths from nine to sixteen years of age working on the roads keeping them in repair -
France's maintenance men.
When we hoisted our Red Cross flag outside the farm house it attracted quite a crowd of urchins who stood and gaped in open-mouthed astonishment whilst we displayed our small stock of drugs. They were soon joined by a few of the women folk of the village who entered into a confab with our hostess. Next morning two old dames arrived and requested our

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attendance on a youngster who had strained herself pumping water, and had a pain in the stomach. After going through the usual medical pantomime of taking her temperature and pulse and looking very knowing after observing the result therof I gave her some of the well known army remedies No.9 pills which certainly shift everything in the stomach and should remove the pain as well. I don't think she will come for any further treatment.

Scarcely had I finished with the youngster than another old crony arrived to ask if we would come and see an old lady who "beaucoup malade". The sergeant and I went and interviewed the old lady who was in bed and she certainly looked very old and feeble. She is sixty two years of age and is suffering from bronchitis. We advised them to call in the french civilian doctor as we considered the case was a bit beyond us, but as he is a tottering old man I doubt if he will be of much assistance. I think she would pull round alright but she seems to be worrying a good deal and hasn't much desire to recover. As the inhabitants speak a patois of their own the little french we know is not of much assistance in understanding them. The military doctors are not supposed to attend the civil population.
The cold is not so intense here now and occasionally we get quite a bright sunny day.
I just received a long letter from both father and mother and also Field Service card from Stirl complaining of not hearing from me. I also received two Lismore papers.
The present war news leads me to hope that we won't have to weather another french winter.

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Trusting all at home and next door are well
Your loving son
Eugene.

P.S. Do you receive the letters in the green envelopes alright. I have heard that they are more subject to censorship than the others.

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France
Saturday April 1917.

Dear Douglas/.

Your letter has come to hand and amply atones for all your former neglect - it is a real masterpiece of composition and achieves the ideal of every scribe to compose a long and interesting epistle without anything in the way of news to work on. As you predict I am becoming more ferocious and untamed every day I spend in the muddy wilderness of France, and the bloodthirsty "Game of War or Spillikens" appeals greatly to my imagination. You should immediately patent the invention and you will be a rich man "Apres le guerre" when it is sure to be all the vogue. At present I have arrived at such a state of savagery that I puff at a cigarette and snort and blow the smoke through my nostrils in the most terrifying manner. It strikes terror into the heart of everyone within range particularly when I am suffering from a cold in the head. Some have even been known to cover their heads with a towel and in childish gibberish request me to turn off the hose.*
I am determined however never to sink to the depths of barbarity attained by the "hairy man from Carcoar" and to guard against such a lapse have had my hair shaved off. Some of the inhabitants have taken me for an escapee from a nearby asylum, which has recently been demolished by shell fire, but

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up till now my ferocious aspect, combined with my intelligent use of the half dozen french words which I have learnt, has kept them from molesting me or curtailing my liberty.
I can't blame these fictitious individuals because even without shaven polls an impartial observer would take all of us for lunatics. We live in muddy holes in the ground, and when we venture forth from these nests, confine our peregrinations to certain well defined drains and gutters cut in the earth.
Every now and again this colony of lunatics become possessed with a vicious lust for blood, and, armed with every available weapon of destruction, they sally forth from their holes in the ground, and rushing madly across the intervening space, hack and slash at a similar colony of fanatics. At other times they merely become vicious and hurl projectiles of iron &c. across at their opponents' trenches. At any time the sight of either one is sufficient to send the other into a frenzy and calls forth a hail of leaden bullets.
Our present abode is in what was once a large farm house. I can picture the aged land owner and his wife returning to reoccupy their possessions after the tide of war has swept on. First they see what was once their beautiful orchard - true the trees are still there some uprooted in the midst of shell holes, others standing on the brink with their roots bare but every where the ground is a mass of large hummocks and excavations, the latter filled with old tins and offal.
Then they turn their attention to the house. The tiled square in the front is nice and clean and undamaged, and this raises their

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hopes, but a glance a the buildings and they are dashed to the ground. The roof is a mass of holes and the top story is packed with sandbags. When they enter what was once a lofty room they find that they cannot stand upright except in the very centre of the room; or rather half tank, for that is what it most resembles. In other words it has been converted into what is popularly known as a dugout. Comme ca. [Sketch]
The inside is thick curved iron. This is one of the most elaborate dugouts; some of those up the line are mere holes in the ground with half a dozen sandbags on top and galvanised iron for a flooring. Through the middle of their best room and right up to the tiles runs a cement construction - an observation post. All the doors and windows are also barricaded with sandbags.
I must now tell you about a raid in which I participated last night. It was contrary to precedent for an A.M.C. to go armed but I left off my red cross and had then no compunction in assisting.There were only six of us participating and we each armed ourselves with whatever we considered the most suitable and serviceable weapon. I selected a good strong cudgel - something like a pick handle - and trusted to the spirit of my ancestors to enable me to weild it like a shillalee ? (not in my dictionary). We did not know until the last minute the time at which we were to set out and at just after dusk we left our dugout. I carried nothing but my cudgel and as the raid was to be a silent one there was no barrage from

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our guns. We found the enemy present in great numbers but none of them showed any disposition to fight. In several cases we surrounded small parties of them and massacred them. Most of them took refuge in their dugouts and we found it impossible to get into them. We were only out for about an hour and can account for sixteen killed. Besides this there were numerous casualties of which I can not give an estimate. I venture to state that the casualties would have been at least twice as many only for the fact that there was a moat, over which we could not cross, into which numbers of the enemy took refuge. Despite the cold they took to the water like ducks and swam underwater almost across the stream.
We had no casualties on our side I received a slight wound through tripping over the enemies wire and thereby sustaining a small abrasion. We had another raid to-night but only killed four. We never bother burying the dead as the enemy carry them off and I am shocked to relate eat them. It shows how scarce the food must be.
Strange to say I felt no fear and not the slightest compunction in killing them. I accounted for four myself and wounded several. They are present in hundreds round here and root and scratch and squeak all round our dugout during the night. If we were here a few more nights our raiders would soon reduce the number of them in the vicinity. It is the only exercise we get in the trenches, and we have great fun rushing after them across the open field behind our dugout. Whenever one is spotted the finder yells tally-ho! and gives chase and the rest of us join in the pursuit. Further up

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in the front line and supports they show not the slightest fear of the men. One gnawed off one of our men's identification discs whilst he was asleep. I saw another hopping about with a disc tied round its neck. You will see from this that they really are our enemies and that it is high time we undertook their extermination.
I had just retired to my bunk after this raid and was contemplating how nice it was to be tucked snugly between the blankets when in rushed an excited and white faced bearer to announce that I was wanted at the Aid Post. I fell out of bed and pulled on my boots - being already dressed - and hurried in. Claude Ellis was already working over a wounded man. I commenced to cut a bloody gum boot off his leg to get at the wound in his knee. The doctor now came in and I assisted in the dressing. The artery underneath the knee had been severed and the bone also splintered and fractured in several places. The poor chap will probably lose his leg. He was also wounded in both hands. During the dressing he was most cheerful and when we were finished he glanced down at his leg and noticing the curve in it remarked "By jove I'll look fine with a wooden leg, look at the ..... its as crooked as b....". Whilst attending to this man three more were brought in. I hopped out and had them put in our kitchen where there was a fire - to help them warm up whilst they were waiting. The next one we treated was Cpt. Mayne - an old friend of mine. The poor fellow had his leg blown almost entirely off below the knee. His left leg. His right leg was also cut and injured in three places. The poor chap had the artery cut and although the bearers had applied a tournique it had not stopped the bleeding and the stretcher was simply

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full of blood. It took us some time to remove his gory gum boot and socks and meanwhile he was most cheerful and kept up the conversation. "Hello Sully old chap. I've got a Blighty this time alright," "Yes, its a bit worse than your last wound." "Do you think I'll lose my leg Doc. What's the verdict?" "Are those other poor chaps waiting, you had better fix them up first." "Oh, its alright - they're not badly hurt." "That hurts a bit you know Doc. I don't know whether it will do any good me telling you".
The doctor was in two minds as to whether he should amputate his leg there and then but to my relief finally decided not to do so. The poor chap was a very decent fellow, and thanked us profusely for our attention when he was leaving. I am afraid he won't pull through although he may as he has the heart of a lion.
Another one of these four was hit by the tail of a pineapple bomb but as he had no surface wound we wrapped him up in blankets and sent him on as he was.The fourth man was wounded in the leg and foot but as no arteries were cut and he was well bandaged by the bearers we sent him on to the A.D.S. without any further dressing.
It was one O'clock by the time we got back to bed.
In all there were only a dozen wounded for the week so you will see that our work was not very hard. On this front we seldom have much work as it is one of the quietest sections in France.
This little sketch of one night's work will give you an idea of what we really do. We have not any of the bearing to do as the S.B.'s bring the wounded down to our Aid Post and the Ambulance bearers carry them from

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there to the Advanced Dressing Station.
Of course we have the most work to do when there is a raid on our section. I don't mean by Fritz, but when we send one over. One night recently we were working at high tension from 9 p.m. till 8 a.m. and put through eighty casualties. On another occasion when our own battalion sent a raiding party over we put through thirty odd.
We frequently witness bombardments of aeroplanes from out dug-out and yesterday afternoon we saw a really good aerial battle. I supposed I would be hanged, drawn and quartered, for saying so but all of Fritz's planes which we see exceed ours in speed. It is often difficult to distinguish his planes from our own but this can be done by careful observation. Fritz's planes are more like a hawk than ours. The ends of the wings curve round and their tail is like that of a fish. I will endeavour to illustrate the difference by a drawing or rather sketch.
[Sketch] These sketches do not profess to be accurate as to details but merely illustrate as it appears to a spectator when they are thousands of feet in the air above his head. My drawings look like sharks whereas the real thing has never struck me as resembling one in any particular.
Well to return to the aerial combat. Two of our planes were returning from some reconnaisance work and we were watching

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Fritz's ineffectual attempts to hasten their departure with his anti-aircraft guns. Numbers of the shells appeared to burst on top of them but they continued on their course apparently unheeding and unharmed. Occasionally they would alter their course slightly to throw his guns out of range and the next few bursts would go wide until they picked up the target again.
Soon their course was speckled with small black puffs from Fritz's bursting shell. Soon the guns desisted and scanning the sky for the cause we distinguished seven little dots at a great height. They were some of the enemies planes giving chase. It soon became apparent that they were gaining on our planes and were bound to finally catch them. Their airmen evidently realised the fact for while one of them sped onwards the other turned to meet the oncoming planes.
Ours was a heavy battle plane carrying two men - the pilot and an observer. Three of the German planes were in advance and we heard the spiteful pop-pop-pop of their machine guns as they engaged our plane. Our craft manoeuvred splendidly. The three boshes being at a greater height had the advantage of him and again and again as one or other would dive down at him spitting bullets he would do a graceful curve and leave them careering ahead past him whilst he spat fire at them in return. The other four now came up and began shooting down on him from a distance whilst three circled round and engaged him at close quarters. Up and down they went describing curves and twists in the air but soon it became apparent that escape was practically impossible for our plane. Turn whichever way he would he was faced by a foe. The manoeuvring was simply wonderful to behold. Times out of number he threw his pursuers off the track but having the slower machine he was at a terrible disadvantage.

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Suddenly we perceived smoke trailing behind him and in a few more seconds a sheet of blood red flame flared in his wake. The machine immediately turned head on to the wind and volplaned towards the ground. It descended so easily and gracefully apparently under full control that we were in hopes that the pilot and Observer were uninjured but we subsequently heard that they were both killed. Our guns which had remained silent during the encounter now peppered the enemy planes with shells but all of the latter escaped uninjured.
I received two long letters from Mother telling of her Brisbane trip but have no time to answer them at present.
To-morrow we are leaving this portion of the front and going back for a rest for a few weeks. I don't think we will return here again. This does not convey much to you as I cannot tell you where here is.
I am enclosing three photos on postcards and an enlargement in a separate envelope.
I am not in love with any of them. Whilst our photograph was being taken we were surrounded by all the ruffians in the other two groups who were endeavouring to make us smile and aiming innumerable pleasantries at us and in ignoring them I have spoilt my photograph.

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They have succeeded in making my comrade on the left grin rather broadly. These photographs were taken at the suggestion or rather order of the Captain who will use them as an advertisement. You will probably see them in the mail. He writes long letters to his father a Chemist in Moree - who publishes them in the local paper and the editor generally adds some complimentary footnote. He hopes thereby to step into a practice when he returns.
I must now conclude or I will miss this mail.
Wishing you success in your examination.
Eugene.

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France
30th. April 1917.

My Dear Parents/.
We have left our billets in the country village of which I told you and are once more in billets somewhat nearer to the firing line but still in a far more civilised and populous neighbourhood. We marched about fifty miles in three days with full packs, equipment &c. billeting for the night at different towns along road. Each night we were pretty well fagged out by the time we reached our destination. We are now settled in small huts but how long we well remain here I have no idea.
I received four letters from home. One from father dated the 19th. February and three from mother dated the 17th., 25th. Feby. and 1st. March. I think father's photos are very good and was delighted to receive them. You mention in your letter of 17th. Feby. sending a small parcel but I am afraid it must have gone to the bottom of the sea. We heard that a lot of the Easter parcels were lost at sea as the mail boat was sunk but the letters were saved. I was exceedingly sorry to hear of Douglas's accident, especially so close to his examination, but I have no doubt he will pull through alright. He generally manages to come out on top. We are getting warm weather now and it is a great relief after the trying winter. When I say warm I mean that the days are like our winter days and the nights are about as cold. We are doing great work in the air lately with a new 'plane and I have witnessed a couple of aerial combats in which we were victorious.

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I am afraid my letters will be considerably curtailed in future as we have some strenuous work ahead and probably I will be unable to get time to write more than a few lines. At any rate I will keep you constantly informed of my welfare even if it is only by the Field Service Card.
I must now close as our batch of men for evening dressings have now arrived.
Your loving son
Eugene.

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6th. May 1917

My dear Parents/.
It is Spring in France. One can scarcely believe the transformation which has taken place within the last week. The whole courtyard is beautifully fresh and green and the air is filled with sunshine, and the musical twitterings of the birds. I heard the peculiar note of the cuckoo this morning for the first time.
I have selected a nice cosy corner at the rear of our terrace and am basking in the luxurious spring sunshine whilst I write. I feel like a large property owner as we have the whole terrace of houses to ourselves. True most of them are half ruined but a few have escaped unscathed. I have just completed a tour of inspection but there was very little of interest to be seen - each one is an exact replica of our own - that is, the one we occupy.
Their gardens however rewarded me better. Each house has two or three fruit trees one quite an orchard of them. The only remaining partition between them is a hedge of currant bushes and these too border most of the garden plots. Each garden has its strawberry plot. In one garden I came across a lovely clump of violets flowering prolifically.
I collected quite a large bunch of rhubarb from around the different houses and we are
going to cook it for tea. It will be the first green vegetable food we have had in France.
The twitters and chirups of the smaller birds are occasionally drowned by a deep humming noise like the drone of an immense beetle. It quickly swells until the whole air is filled with the sound and presently the cause sails into sight over the

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house tops. It is just like an immense hawk winging its way so quickly that before many minutes it has dwindled into a mere speck on the horizon. Here it is assailed by some enemy for it is soon surrounded by little puffs of black and white smoke, and presently the dull burst of the shrapnel floats to the ear. Apparently these hawk-like birds have huge nest suspended in the air for as I gaze around the horizon I can see five large unweildy [sic] looking objects high up in the heavens and around the nearest of these several of the hawks are hovering as if defying any alien birds to attack their home.
There are always two or more on guard round these nests and they are exceedingly fierce when attacked and absolutely fearless in their defence. When-ever a strange bird ventures near their nest they dart out after it and unless it flees immediately a furious encounter takes place in which neither side is satisfied or will desist until one or other comes hurtling to the ground killed or hopelessly crippled. No doubt there is something hatching on these nests judging by the jealous manner in which they guard them.
You could not imagine a more peaceful neighbourhood than this is at present. All the men are out on fatigue work of one and the only break to the country quiet of the spot is a low rumble like thunder which comes from the distant horizon. A glance at the row of crumbling brick walls and shattered roofs opposite soon remind one of the havoc which is going on all round.
Through a gap in the roof of the house opposite appears what was once the spire of a large cathedral. It is now no more than a battered column of bricks and what was the church beneath is now a mass of debris.
What was once a town of some fifteen thousand inhabitants

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is now a city of the dead.
Quiet does not always reign supreme in this neighbourhood. Yesterday at dusk I was standing at the door gazing idly forth along over the battered scene of desolation when suddenly there was a deafening roar followed by the sound of falling tiles and bricks and I saw the house adjoining our cookhouse tumble into a mass of ruins. Luckily none of the cooks were hit but the water cart was perforated with Shrapnel. This was not the only shell, several more burst in the neighbourhood but luckily no one was hurt. Evidently Fritz had seen the smoke and he is never slow to act on such occasions.
I left off here for dinner and have been kept very busy in the meantime. A few presents came over from Fritz and two struck the boy's billets wounding fifteen men. We have just finished patching them up. Only four were anyway seriously wounded. Now peace reigns supreme once more.
I noticed in one of the papers you sent me, an account of Don Graham's death. It is a wonder I did not meet him as he was killed in the same place as we have been quartered, on and off, ever since our arrival in France.
I must desist for the present as we have just received word to pack up as the battalion moves into the trenches to-night. I am not sorry to hear it as these billets were becoming quite a warm corner.
Fritz started to strafe to-night so our orders to take over were countermanded in order to avoid changing the battalions at a critical moment and indeed we were withdrawn out of the danger zone. On arriving back I was delighted to find two letters from home dated the 6th. and 13th. March and the "Sun Herald" and two local papers. The one of which

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you speak containing an account of one of our raids was unfortunately not amongst them. It seems strange that we are not allowed to mention where we are and yet an article such as that is allowed to be published. I am sorry I did not see it as it would be amusing to note how the truth was perverted. After reading a few accounts of gallant deeds &c. done by some of our battalions which I knew to be absolute fabrications I have become very skeptical of newspaper articles.
In one paper I read of the death of one of our Sergeants. He was described as having been killed while gallantly leading a raiding party into Fritz's trenches and it was stated that he received the V.C. for his brave conduct. His sister reading the account wrote for further particulars. Unfortunately for the romance the Sergeant in question was sniped in a quiet corner of the trenches and had no opportunity of making such a brave display. Neither, of course, did he receive any decoration.
Lismore is well to the fore in Patriotic work and the result of the latest effort is certainly splendid and the soldiers greatly appreciate the comforts they receive through the different funds.
Weekly each man receives four packets of cigarettes, two boxes of matches and some tobacco, and they get through them easily enough too and I am constantly supplying some needy comrade out of my supply as I only smoke very few of mine. This is the regular issue.
All our sheep skin vests and warm mits which stood us good stead during the winter come out of the War Chest fund. Besides a general issue of puddings and

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fruit (preserved) and other extras at Xmas we ourselves have received four cases from the A.A.M.C. comforts fund. These contained many very useful articles which are long since worn out. Although this is where most of our comforts come from I would not recommend it to your patronage as the A.A.M.C. as a body need the comforts least of all. Most of them are engaged on hospital work and help themselves freely out of the innumerable comforts supplied for the sick and wounded. In their work too they have twice the comforts of the infantry being always well housed and it is a comparatively safe distance from the danger zone.
The Ambulance formed up at Liverpool and to which we are nominally attached, the 9th. F.A., have the name of being the least efficient over here. The X[th.] F.A. & XI F.A. are much better organised. Of course I have never worked in the 9th. F.A. and have no desire to do so but still we are classed as of them by those who know no better. Some of them had the unforgiveable hide to have their photos published in the "Sydney Mail" as "Dare Devils of the 9th. Field Ambulance". Fancy this from a unit which is miles behind the firing line. Then they treat the infantry and the S.B.'s, the real workers, as inferior individuals and beneath their notice.
Of course the infantry resent the "Dare Devil" business an we get chiacked about it on all sides. As an instance of their bravery. Last night Fritz opened a barage on our lines, sending over some heavy shells. He followed this up with some gas. We got the order to have our masks on the alert but no-body troubled very much about

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it and although we smelt the gas distinctly it wasn't strong enough to be harmful. We were some miles behind the firing line of course. The 9th. F.A., at least as many miles again behind us, got the wind up properly. They all put on their gas masks and evacuated the dressing station or hospital taking most of the patients with them and leaving a few men to look after the remnant. Dare Devils ! Ye Gods !!! Some of the men I know are very decent chaps but as a whole the Ambulance is éffete.
We have received orders to move again this afternoon so I have not the time to write any more at present. I intended re-writing this as it has been hurriedly composed in spare moments but unless I get it off now I may not have another opportunity for some time. With the best of wishes to all at home & next door.
Your loving son
Eugene.

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Saturday, 1st June 1917.

My dear Parents/.
News of the kind permitted by the Censor is very scarce at present, and I scarcely know what to write about.
We have been moving about a good deal lately and time flies by when one is constantly packing and unpacking. We are not in the trenches at present but still in the same locality as when you guessed my whereabouts. You surprised me by the news, which I suppose you obtained from letters of some of our battalion which were published in the local paper. In my last letter I acknowledged receipt of "The Lady Next Door" but when I opened the book which came by the same post as your letter, it turned out to be "Life" Magazine. My disappointment was not very great, however, as I prefer "Life" to any other magazine and found plenty in it to interest me.
Yesterday I met a boy named Jacobs, who said he was from Lismore and came from on the hill at the back of our place. I can't recall him, although he seemed to think mother would know him. I daresay he was some tradesman who has displayed his wares at the back door - probably a one time milkman. Occasionally I meet others from the home town who consider fellowcitizenship is sufficient ground on which to claim instant friendship. One of these is in our battalion. After smiling at him affably and exchanging views on different home topics, I took the trouble to enquire from another party from Lismore district, who my newfound fellowcitizen might be, and what his occupation was. "Oh!" he said, in evident surprise, "don't you know him?" "He was the Council's rat-catcher, Bill? Bloom".

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Certainly we are a cosmopolitan army. Another private whom I met recently was a P.M. in private life. Jack Hassal is his name but I do not know what district he comes from, I think it is Moree way.
He is a University man as are also a couple of his pals in the battalion, and yet they are only privates. They are very decent fellows with apparently no vices to curb their progress.
Promotion in the infantry is often meteoric (excuse the word) and yet men like these are overlooked. I know of at least three cases in which men in the ranks have jumped to Lieutenant without any intermediate steps. None of them were geniuses and one distinctly slow. It would be interesting to know what friends, or relatives they have further up the ladder.
Stars have been falling fairly plentifully lately, some of them earned a dozen times over but the majority distributed promiscuously. It seems to be the rule to give the promotion and afterward require the recipient to attend a school and qualify for the position. In such cases it would be impossible to recall it although the pass obtained would probably count when considering further promotion.
Military Medals &c. are bestowed in much the same way. Some of the men earn them a dozen times over but for want of an officer to witness their acts of bravery, and recommend and push their case, they receive no reward, whereas others, for the merest flash in the pan, are so boosted up, and made much of, that they receive the highest honours.
A couple of such decorations were bestowed on members of the Ambulance lately, and I verily believe that if some of the recipients were to spend a night in the front line trench, they would be suffering from severe shock the next day. Yet the scouts in the Infantry spend most nights crawling about No-man's land.
I was watching some of the signallers sending back messages by

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carrier pigeons yesterday. Quite a number of these birds are employed to convey messages between Battalion and Brigade Headquarters. The message is rolled and fitted in a small capsule which attaches to one of the pigeon's legs. They assured me that this is by far the quickest way of getting a message through.
I think I told you in my last letter that I was picked to go first on Bolougne leave. This has now fallen through and instead we have been promised lond leave to England, in turn.
We tossed up again to see who would be first on the list. I came second in a throw off, after having tied for first place. At the time we expected it to come off very shortly but up to the present we have heard no more about it. I am afraid it will be some time now before it eventuates. Trusting all at home and next door are well
Your loving son,
Eugene

P.S. You might let me have Kevin's address when writing next.

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Friday, 15th June - 1917.

My dear parents/.
Since last writing to you I have been through portion of the Spring offensive and all hands had a very lively time for a few days. Although we read the full account of these things in the papers, and a very accurate account too, with absolutely no embellishments, still we are forbidden to write anything which will betray our whereabouts or indicate the place at which our gallant boys made their attack. From the information you have gleaned from letters published in our local paper concerning the doing of this battalion you should have very little difficulty in location our position in the big advance.
For some days previous to the advance the enemies big guns bombarded our main roads along which the transport column , carrying supplies, had to pass, and also put several shells in the towns in which the troop were billeted.
Everywhere near the front the artillery activity was becoming more pronounced and day and night supplies of all kinds, particularly shells &c. were being carefully stored away for the coming event, until the whole country-side behind the lines was like an immense arsenal. Every hedge within miles seemed to hold its battery of guns of all sizes and calibres, and when traversing any of the fields near the line one would constantly be confronted by the yawning mouths of guns, some of them giant howitzers, in the most unlikely places. In some places a peaceful looking field dotted with haystacks would turn out to be a regular inferno when the guns were in action, each haystack, being merely a dummy, sheltering a death-dealing monster.
We moved up into our position, which I am pleased to say was some

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distance from the front line early in the night before the attack. During our spell in town Fritz had blown in one end of the dug-out we were to occupy so we had to set to work immediately and build it up as securely as possible. We made a rough job of it and then retired to rest until the real work should commence.
In the early hours of the morning I was almost flung out of bed by a terrific explosion, which seemed to lift the whole place up, shake it from side to side, and then drop it again. Simultaneously a terrific bombardment commenced, through which it was impossible to hear one another speak. It was a regular tornado of sound punctuated by flashes of light. It reminded me of nothing so much as a terrific raging storm with both thunder and lightning.
Soon after, our work commenced, and I forgot everything else in endeavouring to assist in staunching the wounds of our heroes.
We were in for six days altogether and during that period I lost all count of time, having no regular sleep or meals but just snatching a little food and sleep as the opportunity presented itself.
Our men were delighted to have the opportunity to come to grips with the hun, after waiting for months in a trench, being constantly sniped at with shot and shell and seldom seeing anything of their enemy.
When they raced over the top with our barage, very few of the enemy waited to try conclusions with them, and the few who did, met with scant mercy. Everywhere along the line our boys reached their objective without much trouble, but then they had to dig in, and consolidate their positions, under a heavy barage from Fritz's artillery. The old trenches are of no use to us, as all his batteries have the range of them to a nicety and would very soon demolish them. In any case after our artillery has finished playing on his lines there is little more than a succession of shell holes left to denote what was once a trench.

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In under an hour each man had what is known as a pot-cover i.e. a hole big enough to shelter himself, and then they commenced to dig along to each other, thereby connecting the holes and forming a trench. This is subsequently built up with sand-bags and paved with duck boards, and protected from attack by rows of tangled barbed wire placed in front of it.
It was during this digging in process that our men suffered most. Some too were picked off by snipers cunningly concealed behind our new front line in the old no-man's land.
The old saying that "an onlooker sees most of the game" applies equally here and, from our position of security behind the line, we were kept in constant touch with the progress of the battle. Each night after the first advance our boys raided some fresh positions and in each case secured and held them.
I could fill a book with all the different tales of bravery and heroism haltingly told by the wounded men. The spirit of them all was magnificent and there wasn't a single grumble, despite the fact that some of them laid in a shell-hole in no-man's land, badly wounded, for days, before they were located and carried in by the bearers.
One of our Corporals, an immense fellow weighing fifteen stone, was hit in the leg by a machine gun bullet when he first hopped over the parapet. Being determined to see more of the enemy, he threw off his equipment and raced ahead with his bayonet, and, despite his wound, he bayoneted several Fritzs, until at length he fell exhausted in no-man's land - fifty yards beyond our most advanced position. He succeeded in dragging himself into a shell-hole, and there he lay for three days, under the blazing noonday sun, without any food or

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drink, and the enemies shells bursting around him, and machine-gun bullets constantly singing overhead.
Finally two of our bearers discovered his position and carried him in through a hail of bullets. By the time he reached our Aid Post he was practically exhausted and his leg was swelled to an enormous size. I heard subsequently that he was doing well in hospital.

The bearers have been recommended for their bravery and devotion to duty in venturing out beyond our lines to fetch him, but I doubt if they will receive any decoration as this is regarded as the everyday work of an S.B. There was another similar case in which one of our men lay in no-man's land for two days and then set out with two wounded companions to crawl into our trenches. Both his companions were killed on the way but he reached one of our main avenues and fell into it. Here he was picked up by the bearers and carried down to our Aid Post.
The saddest loss of all was one of our most popular officers. This man had set out to raid one of the most advanced positions and strong points of the enemies' machine guns, and, before their departure it was arranged that they should send up a red flare in case they met with a large body of the enemy, and were in difficulties.
After the men had been gone some time a red flare went up far in advance of our lines. This made the Captain very anxious as to the welfare of the men, and, fearing that they had been cut to pieces, he insisted on going out after them himself, accompanied by only one runner.
Shortly after he left our trenches the men returned to report that they had taken the position without much difficulty and that Fritz had fired the red light. Although a search party went out neither the Captain nor his runner have been heard of since. Probably they wandered across some stray patrol of the enemy and were killed or taken prisoner

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We were withdrawn from the line after six months days strenuous work and are now quartered in a most peaceful neighbourhood well out of the range of the guns.
At present I am writing seated in a green sward surrounded by fruit trees of all kinds, particularly cherry. Unfortunately although covered with fruit they are not quiet ripe yet, but, if we remain here for another fortnight, I am looking forward to a good feed. I don't know what the french proprietor will have to say on the matter but it will hardly affect us much.
We live under the trees spending most of our time reclining on the grass recuperating from our strenuous work, and all of us sleep out in the open at nights.
I had an opportunity, a couple of days ago, of looking over our latest and most deadly weapon of offense, a tank, and you may be sure I took it. They are truly wonderful and most deadly monsters, quite impervious to rifle and machine gun fire and proof against against (anything) but a direct hit from the largest shells. Numbers of them were in the present advance but not on our immediate front.
I secured a Fritz helmet, knapsack, rifle-bolt, water-bottle, belt almanack and Field Letter card, as souvenirs. I am afraid I will have no hope of sending the helmet but will post the others as they may prove interesting to you.
I received two letters from home dated 2nd. & 15th. April and also a book "Silas Marner", and am pleased to hear that all at home are well.
The garden must indeed be beautifully decorated with the new Sunflower. I hope Kit's snaps of it and yourselves prove a success.
I must conclude now as the mail closes to-day and will write again at the first opportunity. I have endeavoured to write each week but have missed some I'm afraid. When in the trenches one loses sense of time and the day we come out on a Monday, it is hard to tell whether one or two weeks have elapsed since going in.
With the best of love to all at home & next door
Your loving son, Eugene.

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In the Trenches.
Sunday, 1st. July 1917.

My dear Parents/.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Hullo! Fritz is sending some long distance shrapnel over our dug out.
"Stretcher Bearers! Stretcher Bearers!" I heard the cry and poking my head out of our dug out espied a white faced runner coming towards our Aid Post. "What's the matter lad?" The doctor has just been hit near battalion head quarters, he is lying face down on the duck walks. Snatching a bag of dressings I hurried after the runner. When we reached the spot the Colonel and Adjutant were assisting the doctor to a sitting position. He was bleeding freely from the head. I assisted him into the nearest dug out and found that the wound was only slight, about three inches long and an inch deep. I soon

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bandaged him up and he has gone off to hospital.
This means we will have a new R.M.O. and we are all wondering what he will be like, as it means a great deal to us. I think we are all sorry to lose our doctor as we have been with him so long and got accustomed to all his ways. Lately, too, he has been exemplary in his kindness and consideration for us.
He tired of an R.M.O.'s work lately and has been endeavouring to secure a transfer, and also get leave after his strenuous work in the push. I dare say he will make use of the opportunity now offered him and get both the leave and the transfer, so that the change will be a permanent one.
None of the doctors are overanxious for an R.M.O.'s job although it is really a very easy one. They

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don't stand the same chance of promotion, perhaps that has something to do with it. They are all a windy lot too.
Our dug out wasn't much good so we decided to build a better home for ourselves. We set to work yesterday at dinner time and now we have our new building complete and have moved into it, but my word it was hard work. First of all we had to dig a hole in the earth five feet deep and ten feet in length & breadth. We then carried our roof, three pieces of thick curved iron (each as much as piece took four of us all our time to lift it, two hundred yards. We then filled three hundred sand bags to build up the front and back and put in supports for the roof, and lined the mud walls with galvanised iron. We then built up the roof on top with mud sand bags and concrete

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busters. We are very comfortable in our new and palatial residence now that it is complete. It is higher than most dug outs and we can just stand up-right in the centre.
Myself and another sleep on a sheet of galvanised iron well covered with sandbags, Jack Warne sleeps on a duck board at one side and George Barr the other occupant sleeps on a stretcher propped up near the roof, making a kind of loft.
Twelve Military Medals were bestowed on our battalion during the week for conspicuous bravery in the recent advance. I have no doubt you will read the account of their deeds in the Sydney papers.
In an open field on the edge of a ridge lies one of our Aeroplanes which was hit by one of our own shells and crippled on the first day of the attack

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It is about half a mile from our quarters. I paid the wreck a visit a few days ago and am enclosing portion of the colours which I cut off the wing. All the covering of the 'plane is made of the same material.
I received a letter from Stirling yesterday in reply to one of mine. He is well and wishes to be remembered to all ast home.
Some of the Portuguese, who are working somewhere at the back of the front wondered round the trenches looking for souvenirs yesterday. I was talking to one of them and secured his everlasting gratitude by the gift of a Fritz bullet. There are hundreds of them lying about the ridge but it was a real novelty to him. They were very frightened whenever a shell landed anywhere in the

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vicinity and wasted no time in getting back to there own quarters when Fritz sent a few over although the shells burst hundreds of yards away. I don't think they would be much
good in an attack. They are well equipped though and dressed something after the style of the french soldier, in a grey-blue uniform. I believe there is a division of them over here.

I received my birthday parcel to-day. The cardboard box was in shreds but the linen covering held the contents together alright and they were undamaged. The socks came at a very opportune moment and of course the sweets and camp pie were very acceptable.
I think I already acknowledged receipt of "The Harvester" and "Silas Marner". The former I had already read but the latter was most

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interesting. As we are not very busy these times I was able to settle down and read right through it in a couple of days. I would be glad if you could send me a "Life" magazine now and again. It generally contains some instructive reading which is very necessary in the trenches.
Our Commanding Officer, Lieut. Col. Morshead received the D.S.O. recently in recognition of the good work done by the 33rd. Btn. under his leadership.
The photo which I enclose with this letter was overlooked and should have accompanied one written some months ago. The scrap of paper is one of Fritz's Field Post cards, (one of the relics I acquired lately) which may prove of interest to you. Unfortunately the enclosed slip is not written on.

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The new doctor arrived to-night - Capt. Bartram. We had him with us before when Capt. Rosenthal was ill. He is a very conscientious worker and we all get on well with him. With his heavy rather clumsy frame, stolid face, and plodding walk, one would a casual observer would be more likely to take him for a farmer than a doctor. Still he is not so dense as he appears and is wide awake to the dodges of the habitually sick men who contract an ailment whenever there is any strenuous or unpleasant work to be done.

Our battalion are at present engaged on night fatigue in ^(or around) the trenches. Their chief job is burying the dead Fritz who have been lying about since the push. Not a very pleasant task when you recollect that it is now over three weeks

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since that event. Well as a consequence our sick parades have increased to an amazing extent. All the malingers rake up their fancied ailments and come along in the hope of getting no-duty and thereby escaping the unpleasant work.
The word soon passed around that there was a new doctor and all the all hands who had despaired of putting anything over on the former medico arrived in force this morning to try their luck with the new one.
Capt. Bartram listened attentively, and generally sympathetically, to everything they had to say and thereby raised their hopes, but when they looked over the parades subsequently they discovered that only one of their number had received "light duty" and four genuine cases were sent to hospital.

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It is very amusing to hear the tales of woe put forward by some of the men. A really sick man doesn't generally know exactly what is wrong with him beyond the fact that he is feeling sick and seedy but the would-be sick man has all the symptoms of his choice disease off pat and is quite discursive as to his various aches and pains and how they affect him.
I have just received word to pack up as we are moving out of the trenches this evening so I must bring this to an abrupt termination.
Trusting all at home & next door are well
Your loving son
Eugene

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In the Trenches
Wednesday, 25th July 1917.

My dear Parents
Unfortunately I have been unable to write my usual letter the last two weeks, and had to be content with despatching that most unsatisfactory of all communication commonly known as a "Whiz Bang" or Field Service Card just to let you know that nothing untoward has happened to me.
As a matter of fact I have been in hospital for the past fortnight suffering from a slight attack of trench fever. It is not half as bad as the name suggests or at any rate my attack was not. It was just like an attack of influenza but without the worst part i.e. the cold in the head and runny nose.
I have been out of bed for the past week and recuperating at a rest station behind the lines. This is one of the latest and most sensible ideas that have been put into execution as regards the sick.
Instead of sending them straight back to the trenches when they are no longer ill enough to be kept in hospital they are sent to one of these rest stations to have a spell and recuperate before again facing the discomforts of the trenchs. We are very well fed and looked after and I have been putting on weight rapidly.
The New Zealanders took over this hospital from the 9th F.A. last week. Their doctor, a Major Craig, who attended to all the hospital cases, was an exceptionally kind and considerate man (a sample seldom met with among the military doctors) and he insisted on every man having a good rest and wouldn't think

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of discharging any of the men until they had thoroughly recuperated. He was particularly kind to me and although I was up and really recovered completely, although a bit thin, he insisted on procuring for me all the extras there were in the way of special dishes &c. consequently I picked up in no time and am now feeling fitter than I have for a long while.

Since this is the first time I have ever paraded sick or been off duty for a day, a record held by very few, I thought I might as well make the most of it and consequently have been in no hurry to rejoin my unit. There are dozens of men from our battalion here as well as a large number from the other brigades.
Our division has been kept in the trenches for a longer period than ever before and under more trying conditions and I think it is as a kind of protest that the doctors have been sending numbers of men with only slight complaints into hospital.
Many of those here have very little indeed really wrong with them, being only somewhat run down. It is amusing to see some of them "swinging the lead" as we term it. That is shamming complaints when they are really well in order to stay in hospital for a while longer.
When the time comes for taking the temperatures, too, all the comparatively well, vie with each other in endeavouring to raise their temperatures above the normal, and the man who succeeds in doing so even if only by a few points is looked upon with envy as he is sure to be left in for a few more days.
Anyhow I feel I have rested quite long enough and am to return to my unit to-morrow.
I must close now in order to catch the mail.
With best of love to all at home & next door
Your loving Son
Eugene.

[Page 282]

France,
Wednesday 1st August 1917.

My Dear Parents/.
You will be pleased to hear that I have left hospital and re-joined my Battallion. It appears
that I was exceptionally fortunate in being away as they were holding a particularly rough section of the front and they had to put up with innumerable inconveniences and hardships. I am assured that it is the livliest portion on the whole Western front just at present and judging by the worn out appearance of the men and the heavy list of casualties I can quite believe it.
Well the day I returned the Battalion came out of the line and I understand that we will not be going into the trenches on the same front again. The whole Division is due for a spell and I believe we are to get it. Rumour says we are to recuperate on the sea coast. I hope it may prove correct as at this time of year such a change would be very acceptable.

I was delighted on my return to find two letters from mother and several papers awaiting me. Your statement that the back yard was entrenched awaiting the planting of rose trees astonished me. Surely father hasn't extended his garden to the back yard. Why the number of beds in the front alone would be sufficient to keep a gardener busy all day. Especially when the cutting of the grass &c is included. It must be a great tax on him keeping the place beautiful with flowers.

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Each one of your letters contains an account of some fresh wonder in the garden. The hybrid sunflower must have been very beautiful more especially as it was so unique.
I am glad to hear that our old family retainer "Cap" still lives up to his principles. I am afraid, though, had he been anyways hungry, that the game would have disappeared in a very short time. In any case his hunting days are over and so long as he fills the position of watch-dog he is doing very well, and for that post of honour the fatter he gets the more imposing and awe-inspiring will be his appearance.
This letter dated 16th May also contained an interesting letter from Aunt Dora and one from Kit. The latter seems to be enjoying herself immensely although the early rising must be a severe tax on her, especially after being up till midnight or later at theatre parties. One generally tires oneself more in the pursuit of amusement than at work and returns from a holiday more in need of a rest than before. Such was always my experience of fleeting trips to Sydney & Brisbane.
Next day after my return I received another letter from Mother dated the 21st. May and a very long and interesting one from father dated the 25th. May. Father says you received word from his sisters.
Did Fanny forward you my camera? I sent it to her requesting her to keep it until she heard further from me. My real intention was to have it handy when I get leave so as to be able to send you some photos of Ireland and the family. I think she misunderstood me and sent it on to you. Is that the case? I am not sure where it is.
It is some time since I heard from Mrs. Healy. I think she is waiting for me to re-open communications. You know what a poor hand I am at writing letters and you and Stirling are my only regular correspondents, and my letters to the latter are very often only Whiz-bangs

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The rain has been pouring down for the last three days but as our billets are dry it does not trouble us much. We are now in a nice little house which is surrounded by ruins but has remained intact. The floor is all tiled and makes a rather hard & cold couch with only one blanket underneath one. I have got over that difficulty by lifting one of the doors off the hinges and despite a couple of ridges it makes a fairly comfortable bed. I think I should lie awake all night if I had a soft mattress underneath me.
Two batches of German prisoners passed here yesterday. I suppose I had better not tell you how many. The majority of the first lot were mere youngsters most of them only eighteen or nineteen years of age. They looked pretty well fagged out and no wonder.
The second batch were much older men and looked as if they had been having a very rough time of it. There was one officer amongst them. He was rather a refined looking
individual and seemed to feel his position very keenly. He was shedding tears at one
portion of the journey. I think that once they get behind our lines and see the large numbers of men, all well-equipped and looking contented and well-fed, they begin to realise that the "fadder land" isn't having everything its own way, as their own papers would have them believe.
These prisoners are very fortunate for they will be well housed and fed and are now safe till the end of the war no matter what its duration may be. A few seemed to regard it in this light and were chatting and laughing amongst themselves. But the majority were looking very sorry for themselves.
Trusting all at home & next door are well
Your loving son
Eugene.

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France,
4th. August 1917.

My dear Parents/.
Your letter of the 11th. June reached me a few days ago.
Poor old Doug. has been exceedingly unfortunate lately. One would think, comparing his list of casualties with mine, that he was at the front and I was at home. Although his work is far harder than mine and requires twice the brain power. It is so long since I have had any mental exercise that I often wonder how I will tackle hard work again.
After a few days rain and wind the weather has again picked up and is now ideal, and the whole countryside is a picture. The french people are still toiling from morning till night to get their harvest in before more rain comes along.
The Sergt. went on leave last Sunday and I was transferred to the main dispensary in his stead. I was very sorry to have to leave my comfortable quarters but there was no alternative. We managed to secure a bed last night so that I am almost as well housed as before I moved.
All the roads here are lined with Hazel bushes and I am looking forward to a good feed as soon as the nuts are ripe, which will be about October.
In these quiet country places there is very little worth writing about and I have exhausted my slender stock of news already.
Trusting that all at home and next door are well
I remain, Your loving son
Eugene.

[Page 286]

France,
17th.August 1917.

My dear Parents/.
You will be glad to hear that we are now resting in the country at a considerable distance from the trenches and are like to be here for some time. The village is very small and very few of the inhabitants speak any English. Most of the other villages at which we have been billeted have been anglicised and I found no use for my smattering of French. Here it is standing me in good stead and I should be able to improve my knowledge of the language considerably before we leave.
As the battalion is scattered, two companies being here and two in the next village, our detail has been split up and Jack Warne and I are attending to the sick from the two companies stationed here and the rest of the detail are with the others. We are very comfortably quartered and have arranged with the farm mistress to allow us occupy a bed in the house for a few francs a week. It was quite a shock to climb in between sheets
again and we found them so cold that we were almost reverting to our blankets. Once they had warmed up a little we couldn't have wished for anything better. Most of us were pretty well fagged out when we arrived here at dusk having marched twenty odd miles and done a train journey of thirty miles and Jack and I weren't long in occupying our luxurious

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couch. We have our Dispensary in the stable adjoining the house. I think I told you that we have a new doctor with us now, a Capt. Mailor from the 11th. Field Ambulance. He has made arrangements to be permanently attached to the battalion. He is a young rather lady-like individual, but a capable medico and exceedingly keen on his work, a marked contrast to our former doctor. There is not a man in the battalion who is not well pleased with the change.
I received a letter from Stirling a few days ago written from a hotel in London. It was written on the second last day of his ten days leave in Blighty, three days of which he spent in Scotland.
Our battalion is getting leave a few at a time but I have no idea of when my turn will come. Our Sergeant is leaving next Sunday so, probably another of the detail will get leave on his return. Paris leave is being granted to those who like to apply but everything is so dreadfully expensive there that very few are taking the opportunity of visiting it.
I was talking to one of the men who had just returned from there and he says that one wants to be a millionaire to see Paris properly.
He put up at a fairly stylish hotel and desiring to save on his food had a moderate breakfast of a couple of poached eggs and a plate of porridge with a cup of coffee. This cost him twenty francs. The rest of his meals he wisely had at a restaurant. There, too, the charges were excessive.
To secure civility and attention one must tip everybody but twenty five centimes (2½ d. - a small nickel coin) is considered sufficient. Fruit is excessively dear, even here in the country where every house has an orchard attached one pays 6d. for a peach, 3d. for an orange, and 3 francs and a half for a pound of grapes - generally one bunch. Pears, plums, and cherries which are more the local products are cheaper. Here, too, we pay 3d. an egg although

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every farm has its poultry run and the eggs are most plentiful.
The french people round here are most industrious and women and children work in the fields from morning till night. Every available space is cultivated and it is quite a usual sight to see acres of beans and peas, cabbages, potatoes, and sugar beet. In some places the whole country side looks like an immense chinese vegetable garden just like those held by chinese at home.
I have never seen such a variety of vegetables grown on such a large scale. The crops they grow in this district are splendid. The heads of the wheat are so heavy that the stalk is not strong enough to support them and they are bent almost to the ground. This season was splendid until just the time for harvesting when the rain came and spoilt everything. It poured down for days and the crops and potatoes &c. rotted in the ground. It seems dreadful to see acres of wheat and oats, splendid crops, all ruined.
The people here inform me that their only hope of making anything now is from their apple crop from which they make cider, and they are afraid that the troops may rifle their orchards.
It is quite a long time since I received any word from home. I think the mail service from Australia must be very poor now. I have no doubt I will receive a regular budget of letters when they do arrive.
I will write again as soon as possible and I daresay I will then have something to which to reply.
Trusting all at home are well.
Your loving son
Eugene.

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France,
Wednesday, 22nd. August 1917.

My dear Parents/.
Since my last letter home I received a long and most interesting letter from mother. Your recollections of Ireland make me long to make the trip and I should have the opportunity now very shortly.
When we are out here in the country resting some of the men are going on leave every week and as soon as I consider I am sufficiently financial I will put in an application. Each man is allowed ten clear days leave in England but before proceeding he must show ten pounds in cash or else have that amount to his credit in his pay book. I have been existing on half pay for some time and have now almost the requisite amount but I would prefer to wait awhile and amass a little more as some of this will go in travelling expenses.
Of course, even after I apply it might be months before leave is granted as only a few go at a time. I think it amounts to twelve per week from the Brigade that is three from the Battalion (almost 1000 men) although half of these would not be eligible owing to the money difficulty and about a quarter have already had leave.
I have not written to or heard from the Healys for some-time. I wrote last thanking Mrs. Healy for a nice sweater she forwarded but I will re-open the correspondence as perhaps my letter went astray.
It must be very lonely in the house by yourselves but I daresay Kit will have returned long before this is posted and will be enlivening you with accounts of her numerous triumphs amongst the knighted college youths.

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I do not refer to Douglas's clan but rather to the unsophisticated barbarians fresh from Mudgee. I would not think of referring to Doug's learned colleagues in such terms, for fear he should retaliate and flay me with his pointed sarcasms. I would even risk this if I thought it would result in my receiving word from him.
I have three souvenir belts. One composed of German machine gun bullets, another decorated with a collection of different regimental crests and badges and a third one of the Bavarian belts with their crest and motto "In trene Fest" on the buckle. They are nothing special in the way of beauty but would be somewhat unique in Lismore. If Douglas would care to have them I can post them to him as they are of no use to me. They are wasted here as such souvenirs are the order of the day, but if Douglas was to swagger around the block in Lismore, his waist bristling with bullets, or sparkling with badges, he could hardly fail to attract attention. Most of the officers and many of the men have their packs filled with souvenirs, mostly portions of shells such as nosecaps of different varieties, but they are so heavy that very few of the men, at any rate, manage to get them posted; but they retain possession of them in the forlorn hope of getting them away when they receive "Blighty" leave. In the meantime they make packhorses of themselves and cart them all over France. I started out with the same ideas but have long since discarded the heavier of my relics.
Military life is a strange conglomeration of comforts and discomforts. At one time we are all living like a colony of rats shunning the light of day and secreting ourselves in dark and loathsome holes in the ground and at another we are luxuriating at our ease amidst pleasant surroundings in the verdant fields of France. Just at present we are enjoying the latter phase and have every comfort: A nice soft bed in which to sleep, coffee three or four times a day besides our ordinary meals. As soon as we awake in the morning the "petite madame" brings us in a cup of coffee, and ditto at night.
Of course all the infantry do not

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enjoy these privileges but my smattering of French enabled Jack Warne and I to secure a bed, in one of the farm houses, and the little french woman cannot do enough for us. She is a widow with three children, Louis, Augiste, and André, eleven, nine and five years old, and I spend many a spare half-hour in amusing the youngsters.They are well behaved and not at all spoilt so that one can enjoy their society.
The Madame's father is a very jovial old man of sixty odd years and he spends his whole day grafting in the fields, mostly reaping wheat, oats, and clover with a scythe. Most of their harvesting is done by hand; everyone in the household assisting, from old men and women of seventy or eighty, to young boys and girls of nine and ten.
School is closed during August and September to enable the youngsters to give a hand in the harvesting. Jack Warne and I went out with the old man a few days ago and assisted him in tying up the wheat in bundles and stacking it on the cart and also in unloading and stacking it in the barn.
All the women in the neighbourhood seem to be out working in the fields; some old grannies wearing little white caps; and others young women with bare brawny arms like a man, weilding [sic] their short-handled scythe most dexterously !
The cart they use for bringing in the wheat is only two wheeled although it is as long as any of our four wheeled vehicles which are used for the same purpose. It projects at least two yards beyond the axle at the front and rear. If one was to unload the front first the weight at the rear would lift the horse off the ground. I almost choked one of their horses by so doing.
A boy has just ridden past with five draught horses which have been working in the field. He is riding the first one and each of the others is tied to the tail of the horse in front. When driving one or two horses the french only use one rein. The two or four reins join into one just behind the horses' heads and the driver only has the one rein with which to guide them. I don't know how they manage it but probably the horses obey their voices

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more than the tug of the reins.
Most of their harvesting is done by hand. I have only seen one reaping machine in the district. They are threshing wheat in the farm opposite. The machine is worked by a horse walking up a revolving pathway, like a tread-mill, it's weight keeping the thing going. The horse goes straight ahead all the time and the flooring moves underneath it. The part it walks on is just like a ship's gangway and is only just a horse length, so that if it (the horse) stops going it will be thrown against the rails at the back.
All the arrangements in the farms hereabouts are very old fashioned. Most of the farms have a large wooden wheel at the side standing about as high as the wall. A large dog runs around on the bottom edge of the wheel, which is about two feet broad, and as it is revolved by his weight it turns a barrel inside the room which churns butter.
Every farm is self- supporting although the houses are only a stones-throw from one another. They grow all their own fruit and vegetables, bake their own bread in large brick ovens which are let into the house, make their own butter, and each one has plenty of fowls which supply them with eggs. The latter form their main article of diet and they seldom eat meat. I have not seen any used in the farm whilst I have been here.
Each farm has cellars well stocked with cider, sour, dry white wine and french beer (which is more like bad water than liquor). This and coffee with cognac form their main drinks.
You will be glad to hear that I am putting on weight under these ideal conditions and also in all probability we will be here for some time. Jack and I got rather a shock yesterday when the two companies billeted here received orders to rejoin the rest of the battalion in the next village. We almost shed tears at the prospect of leaving our comfortable quarters but luckily for us the orders were cancelled at the last minute.
I received a letter from Stirling yesterday. He has very little news and like me, mentions the fact the the Australian mail has turned dog on us.

[Page 293]

I received a book entitled "The Gully of the Bloomansdyke" by A. Conan Doyle with your last letter. It is an interesting collection of short stories. I also managed to get hold of a much similar book by the same author "Round the Fire Stories" I think was the name of it. Lately I have very fortunate in securing reading matter. I got in touch with our postal clerk
who is a great reader himself and borrowed several good stories including "The Channings" a book which, if I recollect rightly, you have frequently recommended to me, "The Sheriff of Dyke Hole" Ridgewell Cullum, (a tale of the wild and woolly West) "A Gentleman of London" Morrice Gerard, and "Famous Modern Battles" A. Hilliard Atteridge, also "Sir Nigel" by A. Conan Doyle, (more like one of Sir Walter Scotts historical novels. (The latter I think you sent me). This represents my reading for the last couple of months and is more than I have done for some considerable time.
I am afraid you must have missed several of my letters as we were informed of the loss of several Australian mails.
Trusting that you are all safe and well and in the best of health.
Your loving Son
Eugene.

P.S. Don't be deceived by the date on this letter. It was started on the 22nd. alright, but is only concluded on the 27th., and posted on the 28th. August.

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Received 30th October 3 day's after we knew the worst & 13 days after the final sacrifice had been made.

[Page 295]

France,
1 September 1917.

Dear Father/.
As is frequently the case, after being delayed for some time, the Australian Mail came in a bunch to-day, and I received four fetters from home, and several papers, including amongst the local ones two "Heralds" and two "Catholic Press".
I am glad to hear you received the photos of our A,M.C. Detail alright although they don't do me justice. In reality I am much more robust than one would suppose from the print. I weighed myself on the meat scales at out Quarter Master's Store to-day and according to them I am eleven stone ten pounds. I can scarcely credit it myself but the butcher assures me that the scales are absolutely correct.
So Cap is proving his worth as a sporting hound once more? It is truly marvellous how he manages to do any useful work with his handicap of superfluous avoirdupois. I thought he had degenerated into a lap dog by now and would never be of any further use with the gun. He must be an exceedingly well-bred animal to remain true to his instincts under the circumstances.
I find it hard to visualise Tare now that he is taller than Kit. Whenever I think of him I still picture the squat burly figure, supporting a large red head and fat freckled face. Apparently he has lost all these adornments except the red head. I don't suppose he still retains the "sun-kisses". It makes me feel quite old to learn that he is a grown youth whose voice is breaking already. There is nothing brings home to one more the swift passage of time than to find the youngsters

[Page 296]

one used to play with turned into young men.
Truly this military life is a dreadful waste of one's best years. After being here for twelve months I have developed very cynical ideas of military methods. I think anyone else who takes an intelligent interest in the workings of the battalion must soon adopt similar views. For instance since the last stunt, that is the Battle of Messines, numbers of privates have received promotions, and some have attained to the rank of officers, being raised from private to second lieutenant over the heads of some of the old sergeants who were
with the battalion in Australia.
This could be understood if the new officers had shown any particular talents but most of them are inferior to the sergeants whom they have superceded. Again times out of number from new reinforcements who have never been in action are promoted before intelligent men in our own ranks who have been through the whole chapter. Nevertheless any man in the infantry with any brains or ambition soon receives promotion; after any of the advances, as the casualties amongst non-coms. are very heavy; that is, of course, provided he is lucky enough to come through safely himself.
There are very few of the original battalion here now who have not at least one stripe, and many who landed as privates are now officers. On the other hand there are very few of them left now as, outside of killed or wounded, many have been transferred to different units.
There must be a shortage of officers as anyone who is recommended and gets chosen for the Officers School receives his commission provided he is of good behaviour during his term of training there. I have this information from many of the men who have returned form the School as Officers. Some of them have a very slight idea of drill or tactics.

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I often think over the fact that it is impossible for me to receive promotion in my job; especially when I see numbers of men who were privates a few weeks ago swanking around with stars and have on occasions to take orders from those whom I must regard, without any desire to boast, as my inferiors in most things.
As far as my personal comfort is concerned I am better off than any of the Officers. When we are out of line I escape all the arduous drilling and training which they have to go through with the men and in the line I am in a safer place than most, if not all of them. The risk we take is not the be compared with that run by any of the infantry.
Oh Well! I do not wish to worry you with an account of my troubles, but I daresay you often wonder why it is that I have not achieved something during my military career; especially when you glance through the papers and see the laurels attained by other Lismore boys. If you wish it I will endeavour to secure a transfer to the infantry and I have not doubt I would secure a promotion of some sort before many months.
I suppose you saw the account of our Battalion V.C. - John Carroll. Medals are distributed in good old military style. Carroll did very good work but I know at least a dozen more who did as much or more but of course they can't all win V.C.'s and Jack was the lucky one to be picked upon for the honour.
The Sgt. of the 36th Btn. A.M.C. Detail received the D.C.M. for his good works during the Battle of Messines - Coleman is his name. We were working in the same Aid Post as the 36th. during the stunt and I am in a position to state that we put through more wounded and dressed them infinitely better then they did. In fact on a couple

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of occasions men were so poorly dressed by them that we had to re-do the work. None of us did work which meritted distinction but our Sergt.,as representing the Detail, earned it much more than Coleman.
I just came across an appreciation of Maggie Chisholm's work in an Old Bulletin dated June 14th. They speak very highly of her talented playing.
I received another letter from Stirling yesterday and he is quite well. His Unit is somewhere in our neighbourhood now and I am living in hopes of meeting him before long.
I was very sorry to see in the paper that another Australian Mail had been lost with the Port Kembla. I have no doubt the Germans had a hand in it although the explosion, causing the loss of the vessel, is said to have been accidental.
Trusting that all at home and next door are well and with the best of wishes from
Your loving son
Eugene

[Page 299]

1st Sept.

[Page 300]

France, 16th. Septr. 1917.

My dear Parents/.
Mother has kept me well supplied with books lately and I have had a good opportunity of reading them. To-day I received "Senator North" and also "The Metropolis" by Upton Sinclair.
The Y.M.C.A. have opened a library here and for the sum of one franc one can become a member and after the last book is returned the franc is refunded. Their supply of books is fairly limited but I was able to secure "The Common Law" by Chambers, and "One of Marlborough's Generals" both of which proved very interesting. I also read "Red Court Farm" by Mrs. Henry Woods so that I have been faring very well as regards literature.

[Page 301]

We are still resting in the same place so that you need have no anxiety as to my safety for the present.
The madame with whom we are staying is very cut up just now because she has not heard from her brother, who is in the trenches for four days. He writes regularly twice weekly and when his letter does not arrive on the expected day all the liveliness goes out of his sister, and she creeps about the house looking exceedingly depressed and sorrowful. He must be a very dutiful brother to manage to write so regularly. I daresay she feels it more on account of her husband being dead.
The Sergeant returned from his ten days leave to-day. He spent part of it in Scotland at Edinburgh, and the rest in Wales, and he is full of the wonders and beauties of the former place.
I am very glad he has returned as I was in charge during his absence and this entailed a number of extra duties and responsibilities without any

[Page 302]

compensation, for, as I have told you before, none of the Detail can receive a promotion.
I am getting quite a reputation amongst the civil population as a doctor.
Our little foster mother, for truly she treats us more as a mother than as mere friends, requested me to come and see the woman opposite who was ill in bed. I put on a learned air and advanced into her chamber with measured tread and found the sick lady sitting on the bed fully dressed and looking anything but ill.
With a professional air I took hold of her wrist to feel her pulse but she evaded my grasp with a coy look. I persisted for a while, and at length gave it up in despair, madam explaining that her neighbour was "Toujours beaucoup timide" I determined to make an impression

[Page 303]

nevertheless so I took out my thermometer and commenced to shake down the mercury. This seldom fails to make a most favourable impression on the patient, but when I endeavoured to place it in her mouth she evaded me again. At length she agreed to put it in her mouth for a minute provided I went outside, but before I was out more than a few seconds she had taken it out and called me back again.
As they seemed to expect some opinion from me I told them she had something wrong with her brain, and, under the circumstances, I think I was quite justified. I fully expected to be thrown out after this, but to my surprise the family quite agreed with me, and said that the french doctor had told them as much.
This, my first triumph, in the neighbourhood, for it was regarded as such by the inhabitants, begot me another patient. Madam's sister's husband Monsieur Léon, was bitten in the hand by a pig and she asked me to

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[Page 304]

visit him. Nothing loath I did as requested. He has a very pretty little house near our billet and a most beautiful garden, which is at present resplendent with dahlias.
The owner is more bovine than leonine.
He is an immense man and extremely fat - in fact the image of fatty Arbuckle of Keystone fame only somewhat fatter. I have never seen anyone resemble that famed picture-commedian more closely. His hand and arm were exceedingly swollen and although the bite was only a small one it had not been cleaned properly and had festered. Nevertheless, both he and his wife ignored the bite, saying that it was nothing, and attributed the swelling to rheumatism. It appears that he frequently suffers similarly from this complaint.

[Page 305]

There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that the trouble was from the bite and I treated him accordingly. Despite his bulk he was a most tractable patient and in a few days his hand was so improved that he could get about again. He and his wife can't do enough for me now and were quite hurt because I would not accept payment.
I had better curtail my energies in the medical line or I suppose I will be reprimanded by the French Medical Association. One can easily attain fame amongst these simple country folks. For instance one of our detail gave a very poor exhibition of trick conjuring in the farm house where our dispensary is situated.
Armed with a thermometer in its small nickel case, he made the broom stand on end in the kitchen with apparently no support. Of course the thermometer was his magic wand and the numerous mysterious passes and signs which he made in the air with it apparently mesmerised the broom and caused it to remain

[Page 306]

standing on end. In reality he had a piece of thin black cotton fastened to the knees of his pants, and when he spread his knees apart, the cotton, drawing taut, supported the broom. By slackening it a little the broom swayed and tottered, and renewed passes were necessary to return it to its former position.
The trick is rediculously easy and would only take in children and the simplest of men and women. It quite impressed this audience, anyhow, and they regard him now as being in league with the devil. Whenever he takes out his thermometer the children run for their lives and even the elder people regard him with apprehension.
At present I am writing at our little home in ........ . Madame and the three youngsters are clustered round the hearth and my friend

[Page 307]

is tormenting the youngest. We are treated here as priviledged members of the family and it is truly fine to have this little bit of home life, although a very poor substitute for the real thing, after months in the lines.
Madame tells me to send you her best wishes. As she has put the youngsters to bed and is hovering around to extinguish the lamp and go herself I must now close this hurried epistle.
Your loving Son
Eugene.

[Page 308]

somewhere,
7th October 1917

My dear Parents/.
After what we have been through within the last days; the sights we have seen, and the advance we have assisted in, I consider that there is every prospect of the war being brought to a successful termination by Xmas. One wants to be at the front to properly appreciate the wonderful organisation and system which has been brought to bear in order to ensure our success. In the most recent advance, the Boshe had five Divisions ready to attack in an attempt to recapture some of his lost ground, and it was arranged for an hour later than our own. Our barrage nipped it in the bud and when the Australians advanced they took thousands of these men prisoners. Our Division alone took 3000 men and 20 officers in an advance of a mile.

[Page 309]

The German troops opposed to us here have been withdrawn from the Russian front and they are terrified by the tremendous artillery barrages which confront them on this front. Their morale is very poor. We have not yet met with any German regiment which could stand up to the Australians.
Wherever the Tommies meet with a reverse the Colonial troops are called upon to make it good and as yet they have always succeeded in doing so. Our Division having proved their fighting qualities, are to be reserved for some such work.
Whatever illusions there may have formerly been in the tales of lack of food in Germany there is no doubt that they are feeling the pinch now. The prisoners who were brought in a few days would exchange almost anything for Bully beef & biscuits, which we despise, and for cigarettes.
A couple of our Detail visited one of the cages, an open space fenced round with barbed

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wire, where over a thousand of the Huns were interned. They returned laden with souvenirs in the shape of rings, buttons, German & Russian money &c.
Unfortunately the rain has commenced coming down in torrents and the cold is intense, and this must considerably hamper our future operations. At present we are out of the trenches for a few days and very cosily housed in tents, with plenty of straw to keep us warm. We found a frying pan and two pots a few days ago and have commenced to do our own cooking.
We manage, by a few additions to the rations, to fare exceedingly well, and much better than when we mess with the company.
I received a letter from mother dated the 22nd July and also a Popular Magazine

[Page 311]

Generally one or more of mothers bright and newsey letters await me when I return from the trenches for a few days and they form a regular welcome.
I must close now in order to pack for another move "à bonne heure" tomorrow.
With fond love to all at home & next door
Your loving son
Eugene
7th October

[Page 312]

Somewhere,
9th October 1917

My dear Parents/.
I have been exceedingly fortunate this mail as it brought me three letters from home; one dated the 9th. August from father, and one dated the 26th. July and another the 4th. August from mother; besides a Lone Hand, a Catholic Press, and innumerable local papers. The latter generally come in a bunch and overwhelm me by weight of numbers. I mostly only have time to glance through them and then I pass them on to our Maltese Cart
Driver, who is a Richmond River boy, and always avarious avaricious for news of the rivers.
Stirling had already told me in one of his letters that Stewart was thinking of enlisting and I advised him to write a descriptive letter home in the hope of dissuading him. I suppose as you told me that Stewart found it almost impossible to carry on in a government office when he is eligible for military service
am surprised to hear that you are already posting the Xmas parcels, but I trust that you will not need to post any more but that I will be enjoying the contents of the next at home with you.
It was good of young Hosey to contribute. I feel very keenly for Tops as I always remember her kindness to me, when as a youngster, I was staying with Grandmother: I still retain a vivid recollection of the room on the left of the hallway, at Heatherbrae, opening on to the balcony, where I used to sleep with Tops, and more especially the glorious view of the harbour which one obtained from the windows. It was a beautiful sight at night with the red, green, and white lights of the ferries and larger vessels gliding across the silent waters.
Father speaks in his letter of Hobman's visit to the front. He visited our battalion along with our Brigadier, Jobson, and shook

[Page 313]

hands and chatted with any of the men who cared to approach him. He had a crowd of them around him just outside our tent and had I the least idea that you would be likely to see him I would have made myself known to him. He seems a very affable man and soon made himself at home with the men and had them raking up their numerous souvenirs for his inspection.
I am glad to hear of Emma's success in musical circles but I am afraid her figure will prove a severe handicap to her.
Sylvia Bremer has flashed to the fore and I daresay I will be admiring her on the films before long.
I don't like writing about the war or my own experiences at the front as I know you are quite anxious enough about my welfare as it is, and constant reference to the risks and dangers which anyone at the front must encounter will only serve to heighten your anxiety. Still I must say that, from what I can see around me here at the front, there is now no doubt whatever that we are on the high road to victory, and I will be surprised if the Hun is not driven out of the whole of Belgium by the time this reaches you.
The morale of the enemy troops is entirely broken and now that the number of our guns and stock of shells are almost unlimited, they cannot be brought to face our destructive barrages. I doubt if there are any troops in the world who could stand up to the perfect deluge of shells which preceed all our attacks.
When our infantry follow on after the barage they find the remaining huns shattered in nerves, as white as death, and trembling in every limb. All thought of resistance has been scared out of them, and many rush to meet our men with their arms extended above their heads and crying for mercy.
Well, I believe the end will be in sight by Xmas and I fervently pray that it may. I must close now as we have received orders to move back to the trenches first thing in the morning.
With best of love to all at home and next door
Your loving son
Eugene.

[Transcribed by Jacqueline Lamprecht and Rex Minter for the State Library of New South Wales]