Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Vick letters, 1916-1918 / Frederick Harold Vick
MLMSS 3051

[Page 1]
Letters from Pte. F.H. Vick to Mrs V. Molesworth
1916 – 18

[Pages 2-3 blank]
[Page 4]
Letters from Pte F.H. Vick
1916 – 18

[Page 5]
Harold’s letters
On Active Service
Mrs V. Molesworth
“Lynwood”
Alice St
Auburn
N.S.W

[Page 6]
At Sea
17.10.16
My Dear Sis,
I suppose by the time you receive this letter you will be a mother. I sincerely hope you will have an easy time & free from all danger. I did not go to see you again as I thought it would be better not to as it would only have upset you. You will readily understand that that was my motive for not going to see you again before I left.
Well dear I’m well on my way now & have not been a bit sick. We had it very rough

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till we got to Freemantle but since then it has been remarkably calm. We have plenty of sport on board & generally a bit of a concert at night. Well Sis there is really nothing to tell you for you can see that there is not much to happen on a boat worth writing about, so you must excuse short letter & can only repeat again that you will have every happiness & no trouble when the event occurs. With fondest Love from your Brother.

[Page 8]
At Sea
My Dear Aunt,
We have had splendid weather since we left Freemantle. We did not get any leave there, only put in there to put two serious cases ashore. There is plenty of amusement on board chiefly boxing, wrestling, quoits, jumping & concerts at night. Our food has improved & there is a canteen aboard, so we buy plenty of tinned fruit. Pineapple ninepence pears, peaches, etc a shilling. We are having a boxing tournament this week but I will let you about it later on as I have another week yet to finish this letter.

[Page 9]
We had some good sports last Saturday afternoon. Threelegged races, tug-of-war & wheelbarrow race. My mate & I came second in wheelbarrow race. I met Frank Winchester from Blacktown (Elsie Ivery’s brother-in-law) Mr Baker from Seven Hills & two boys where I used to board at Wellington. Also two others I knew who worked at Mort’s Dock. Well Auntie there is no more news that I can rake up. Oh we had a sweep for 15 pounds. The winning number 513 & my number was 517. Thank Louis for cigarette money. I tell you they are very welcome, I will have enough to last me the journey easily. I believe you can get good

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cigars in Capetown, about as cheap as cigarettes in Sydney. But of course must see there before I can tell you about it. Well Aunt I must finish off here & if I have more news later will jot it down
20.10.16 Still having good weather only it is raining today. There is no fresh news only that I have met about another dozen boys I know, some from St Marys & others from Granville & Parramatta. I have addressed this to Blacktown but suppose you will be a Kurnell. Hope you are all keeping well. Remember me to Grandpa & tell

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him I’ll play him a game of billiards in the Kurnell residence when I return. I suppose it is getting pretty warm down there now. It gets pretty hot in the middle of the day here. Well Aunt I’m afraid I’m stuck for news so will conclude with fondest love to all from Hal

[Page 12]
[Front of postcard from Cape Town]

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[Postcard]

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[Inside of postcard]

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[Inside of postcard signed “Harold”]

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[Blank page]

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[Blank page]

[Page 18]
Mrs V. Molesworth
Lynwood
Alice St
Auburn 
Sydney
N.S.W
Morna
Victoria Pde
Manly
Australia

[Page 19]
France
4/2/18
Dear Sis & Vol,
Am just writing a short note to let you know I am still quite alright & going on well. I have been waiting very patiently for a letter from you but it is a long time coming. The last news I had from you was the letter telling me about the strike so you see it is a few months since I heard any news of you. In fact I have had no letters at all since I have been back in France. The last Australian letter I had was from Laurel ten weeks ago dated beginning of October & as she is in Queensland you can guess I got very little news about you or anyone at home. Anyway Sis I can only hope for the best & sincerely hope that my little niece is growing a nice big strong & healthy girl. I suppose she is quite old enough now to give a power of cheek to both her father & mother.

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We have an orchestra here & needless to say I am in it, that is how it is I have not been up the line again but as we were only given a month & it is over a month since I joined I suppose I will be sent up at any time, but then you know that doesn’t worry me.
Had my photos taken last week so am enclosing one for you although they are none too good. I have not got any fatter over here as I have lost nine kilogrammes (18 pounds) but I think the scales were out of order for although I have lost weight I’m sure I have not lost all that. I reckon I have lost about half a stone. Well dear Sis I think that is about all. We had three weeks of glorious weather but it has broken with a vengeance today as it is raining a treat. Have you taught Noni to say Uncle Hal yet? I suppose yo she will soon be old enough to know all about me or will be by the time I get home. Well dear Sis & Bill that is about all so will conclude with fond love & a big kiss for Noni from your loving brother Hal.

[Page 21]
Mrs V. Molesworth
”Lynwood”
Alice St 
Auburn  
Hampstead Rd
Flemington
Sydney
N.S.W
Australia

[Page 22]
15526
Pte H Vick
France
25.3.17

My Dear Sister
Just received your letter dated new Years Day. I thought you had forgotten me altogether. I did not go to say goodbye the second time because I thought it best not to, seeing the state you were in. What I did was in my opinion the best thing to do under the circumstances so please don’t think it was neglect on my part. So pleased to hear that you are getting on well again. Laurel told me all about baby, said it was the image of that baby photo of you. She must be a little beauty. Tell Nita that I hope the £3 they worried about will come in handy to buy some safety pins for her’s.

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We had a very cold winter here but I don’t think I am any the worse for it, as I am feeling quite well & fit & am in the best of health. Have had a few rough times over here but have always come out with a whole skin. Tell Vol to ease up now for if he gets too much of a start on me I’ll be a non-starter & then you’ll have to rely on his side to be an aunty, but anyway I hope it wont be long now before I will be able to see my little niece, things look much brighter here now, and the weather is getting warmer although it is very mixed, one day snowing & the next a perfect spring day. We are also having very cold winds. Well dear give my kindest regards to Vol & accept fondest love for yourself & my little niece from your brother Hal

[Page 24]
Mr Vol Molesworth
C/o Evening News office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 25]
23
France
25/3/18
My Dear Sis,
I received your nice long letter a couple of days ago but we have been so busy that I haven’t had time till now to answer it. It is the latest letter I have received so far being dated 3/1/17. I thought at first it was the Sunday Times. Your news about pa is the first I have heard about it & sincerely hope he will not have to be operated on for it for I can tell you it is no good. I am feeling very well but I soon get knocked up if I do much heavy work. I had a letter from Bobbie & she is engaged to be married. How rotten it will be if she gets in ahead of Laurel & I, still I suppose I must not be jealous. Am so glad to hear Noni is getting on so well. I would indeed like to see her but I’m afraid it will be some time yet before I get the chance. Lol told me she got the photo alright. Did you ever get my photo from her? I met Bob Sykes a couple of days ago (Violet

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Fry’s boy) He, like me, thinks Vol is up against too big a thing in Orchard but nevertheless he is one of our lot & will support him & do what he can in his unit for him. I would not worry much about Nita if I were you. I suppose she thinks she is a cut above you now she has married a man who would take £3 off a soldier for a supposed friendly deal. I don’t think I will forget that in a hurry. We are having glorious weather now just like spring in “Aussie”. If it wasn’t for the iron-foundries that are flying about one could easily imagine he was back home. Of course it will be stale news to you to know that things are very lively in France now. This time last year we were doing all the pushing. Well dear Sir there is no more I can tell you at present. Of course I could write a book about things which we are not allowed to say but as for ordinary news, well there is none. Tell Vol that all the boys here who know him wish him the best of luck & of course so do I. So with fond love to you, Noni & Vol was & wishing the best of health & happiness I remain your loving brother Hal

[Page 27]
Mr V Molesworth
Alice St 
Auburn
Hampstead Rd
Flemington
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 28]
Monte Video Camp,
Weymouth
13.7.17

My Dear Sis,
I was indeed real pleased to hear from you again. I thought you were never going to write. I think the photo is perfectly lovely my word she must be a bonnie little kid no wonder your letter is full of her. I’m sure you must both be very proud of her but still wait till one of mine comes to light. Don’t you think she is very much like that photo of you when you was a kid? I do.

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I was real anxious to get that letter of yours as every letter I got from aunty & Laurel was always about what a lovely little baby you had & I was longing to have a look at it, or at least at her photo. I suppose you are spoiling it too. Oh no, of course you wouldn’t, neither would Vol. But as you say, I only hope it won’t be long before I will be back again but still it doesn’t look too much like it yet. I will be reclassified this week & will then be sent back to France or put on a job here in England, all depends on what the quack says. I very nearly went west the first couple of days after my operation but I am real well again

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now. My hand is quite better now too. I did not tell you anything about it before but I was wounded in back of left hand (shrapnell) but it was only a scratch, breaking the skin & a small bone in hand. As I took ill the same time I was only officially reported sick. Of course I would have been reported wounded only I got the major to fix it up as I thought it would upset you all a bit if you saw that I was sick & wounded. Never mind kid as I am quite right now

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there is no harm done. But if Vol gets putting any extra in paper tell him to be very careful r as I can get into serious trouble over it. Of course I know he is no [Indecipherable] but then he may not realise how strict they are about [indecipherable]. If it got about in the paper that I squared the major not to report me wounded, how do you think we would get on? I sent some photos home to Laurel that I had taken in London & told her to take one down to you so hope you will like it. Well dear I’m no good at letter writing so will close now with fondest love to Vol, baby & you from your loving brother Hal. I sent you a card & letter for your birthday. Hope you got them in time.

[Page 32]
Mr V. Molesworth
C/O Evening news Office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 33]
No 1 Command Depot
Perham Downs
Aug. 8th

Dear Sis & Vol,
and my Darling Little Niece.
I received your letter which I judge by the envelope, was written 24 May, & I can’t really understand how it is that you have only received one letter & one field card. Why every time I came out of a stunt I sent you a “whizz bang” (field card) & wrote regularly. I certainly admit that I didn’t write every week but never a month passed but that I wrote to you. It was a terribly long time before I had any letter from you & I used to always end my story saying that I would not write again till I heard from you but then that was only kid stakes. Well anyway Sis it’s no use me crying over it. I sent you letters regularly & perhaps you have done the same, still there are so many go down or go astray that one does not know what to think. The last letter I had from Laurel was dated April 30th & I would not believe from one minute that she did not write in May, yet I have had none from her. I got one from Auntie Kate & she enclosed a cutting

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about my illness & about Laurel going to Queensland. & that was the first I’ve heard about her going there. I have not even heard from her mother & I’m sure she would have written as soon as she heard of my illness, so you see dear how letters must go astray.
I was indeed very sorry to hear about poor Billy going west. While I was in France I saw thousands & thousands of dead & dying & got so used to it that I never used to worry at all but how different one feels when you learn of one of your own pals going under. Why dear it very nearly made me cry. I do feel so sorry for his mother too.
Of course dear it is very nice to hear you have sent me a parcel & much nicer if I do get it. It’s just one big game of chance. I have received three so far, two from Lol & one from Doris but if I don’t receive it, it is absolutely no use making enquiries. But anyway Sis I heartily thank you for sending it not only for what it may contain but for such kind & thoughtful

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feelings that prompted you to think of me many miles away. I always love to get a letter from you even if they are so far between. I think the photo of little Noni is just lovely & you can understand Ive when I say (indecipherable] she will always be your dearest treasure that she may grow into as fine a girl as ever God put breath into. I would have loved to have sent over some nice little things for her but really Sis, a shilling a day just about keeps me living & you know I have always been so funny in sending presents. I would hate to send one that was not a nice decent one but never mind kid (indecipherable I do come back I will be able to bring something with me. I have asked to be sent back to the line again for I really feel I must go & there is something seems to be drawing me there too that is the reason [indecipherable] the “if”. I am still classed medically unfit for active service though t  I ought to be fit by next week. You know dear that when I left home I felt as if I would not get knocked & I still feel the same but the war now is just a slaughter house. I heard from one of my mates yesterday that out

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of 92 stretcher bearers in the Bullecourt that only 11 were not hit. My squad is no more. Two were killed outright & one had two legs blown off. The chap who took my place was not hurt. I wonder if I would have come out of it but anyway it has turned out for the best. Had I not got appendicitis I would have been in the stunt as my hand was better by that [indecipherable]
So glad you remembered my birthday & I hope you got the card I sent you. I was confirmed Monday night & it will give me more strength to believe in Him for really dear I have learnt many things while I have been in France & the seeds that were sown in our young life have just began to spring up. Why one can’t help but believe in God after going through one or [indecipherable] scraps & never knowing whose going up next. Look I must not write like this as you will think I am very depressed & I really am not but then its makes you serious when so many of your pals go under. Well dear old Sis I will close now hoping that you, Vol and N are in the best of health & all happy & contented, & sending you my fondest true

love from your ever loving brother XXXXXXXXX

[Page 37]
Another few lines
I met young Jack Walker here (Bessies brother) & he wishes to be remembered to you. Bessie married Fred Blackett from Blacktown. I suppose you remember them. (the Blacketts) She had a son born or on our anniversary (April 15) We had a great old yarn & I found out from him Ross Jones’ address but don’t suppose I will see him as he is in London & I have had my furlough. We are having bad weather again. Last week was like a week in our winter. Sun, Mon, & yesterday were real summer days again but today it is [indecipherable]  teeming again & pretty cold too. If the weather was as dry as I am for news well there would be no rain. Have met Rowley Jones here (my mate in camp. He came over on same boat and took on a dental job) Have had a pretty fair time with him but it is awfully slow here after Weymouth. Well dear once more good-bye & tons of love & kisses from Hal

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No 1 Command Depot
Perham Downs
Aug 23rd 17

My Dear Sis,
I received your parcel today for which I am very thankful. Of course I had not given up hope of receiving it but we always consider ourselves very lucky if we do get them. Had I got it yesterday I would have saved a shilling as I only bought this pad yesterday. My word I did enjoy a good old smoke (and so did my boss) it made me think of Auburn again & of some of the happy hours you, Vol, Lol & I spent together. Everything was OK except the figs & they were a “dud”. The weevils got into them. Only one cigar was broken & yet the tin of cocoa came the proverbial “guttsa” i.e. was dented in a bit, & a bit mixed up with the other goods, but anyway Sis I am real pleased & thankful at receiving them. The nuts were just lovely. Did Noni put them in? I suppose she will be running down to meet her uncle when he returns. I do wish I was there

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to nurse & play with her for a while. I have showed her to some of my mates & they all wanted to know if it was mine. I feel that proud of her that I have almost made up my mind to tell them it is mine instead of yours. Do you remember Rowley Jones? I don’t know for sure whether you have met but we (Alex Rowley & I) all went into camp together & were mates right through. Rowley came over on the same boat but took on a dental job & never went to France. Well anyway he thinks too that she is just lovely. He knows Laurel & Bob & is going to bet Lol that we can’t turn out one like it. But as old Asquith said “Wait and see”. Rowl & I are together again & are bedmates too so it is like old times again. You will be glad to hear that I am unfit for active service and am now attached to the dental corps. I have not been transferred yet so my address is still 5th F. Amb. I did try to get back to France and it was wh through that that I

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got this job. I told them I did not want to be messed about drilling & route-marching so they sent me before the doctor. I told him I was anxious to get back to my unit but after overhauling me he pronounced me unfit for active service & put me in this dental job. It is some job but it will do me for the during duration, because now that I know I am unfit I don’t mind taking it on. Just think of it, no more chats, sleeping on snow & ice, or dodging shells & bullets anymore. It ought to be a relief to you & Laurel. Anyway Sis they can’t say I haven’t done my bit for if you meet any returned soldier from France ask him what six months stretcher bearer (winter included) is like in France. There is really no news to write about so don’t be downhearted over a short letter. I have been to all the surrounding villages but they’re all of a muchness. We have

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a good deal of amusement in camp such as boxing & wrestling twice a week & always two concerts a week so you see there goes four nights out of the seven. The weather here is very changeable, raining one minute & fine the next, but I think we have more rain than sunshine.
Well dear old kid I will finish this now sending you, Noni & Vol my fondest love
& I remain Your loving brother Hal

[Page 42]
Mr V. Molesworth
C/O Evening News office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 43]
20 [Indecipherable – probably July] 1917
My Dear Sister,
At last I have heard the good news. Laurel told me all about it. I hope you have completely recovered & that you & baby will be in the best of health when you receive this letter. I thought I would never hear how you had been faring, that is the main reason why I have not been writing you letters. I thought perhaps that things might not be going too well with you. Say, where did you get the name from; I don’t ever remember hearing it before. Tell Vol I congratulate him for getting his new job, and hope he [indecipherable] goes ahead. Well Sis I cannot send you any more news as this letter has to be posted within ten minutes as we are moving tomorrow & the

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[Transcriber’s note: Page 44 – top of page torn off]
[Indecipherable]. Laurel will no doubt tell you what little news I have been able to write. We are having terribly cold weather here now, and ice skating is in full swing. Will write you a longer letter next mail. Again hoping Vol, you & baby are all doing well. I will close with fondest love from your brother Hal
P  15526 Pte F.H. Vick

[Page 45]
Mr V. Molesworth
C/O Evening New office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 46]
15526 Pte .H. Vick 23 Section 5 .F. Amb 31/10/1917
Dear Vol,
Received your letter three days ago but waited to hear some of the comments before answering it. Your news was an eye opener indeed & am glad you gave us the dinkum oil about our new government. I don’t mind admitting that I voted for nationalists myself but then we had absolutely no news of Labor movement at all & the arguments put up on behalf of nationalists left us nothing to do but vote for them. There are a few men in this camp, well I’ll take a risk and say few thousand in this camp & it has spread about a bit. There are a few arguments about it too. I will give you one instance When I received your letter I was B1A3 & yesterday I was marked A3 (i.e. fit for France. I was transferred to another

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camp in the same depot. There was a nice a nice little argument going on when a chap remarked “well the bastard who put that about the camp is a b--- german & the one who wrote it a bigger one still”. Well Vol I don’t mind telling you I hopped him out pretty quick and I may tell you I didn’t come off second best either. Still that’s neither here nor there. The majority all consider they have been duped but then your news is about the first little bit of insight we have had about it. We certainly did hear that the card system was the cause of the strike but no one seemed to realise that an attempt had been made to squash unionism. When you write again give me all the news you can but then Vol I will be in France unless I am lucky enough to get a blighty as soon as I get there. I can’t even gamble now on having Xmas dinner in England. Mind you I tried several times to get back to my unit so of course it is not

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worrying me in the least. It will be a bit of a knock back striking France again in the winter. Tell Ive not to worry as I will be quite alright as I don’t suppose I will go stretcher bearing again. Have not told Laurel yet but will have to tell her in her next letter. I know it will worry her Vol but still I’m not dead yet. Have had some good old times here. Been to London four times & have been treated like a toff. But then that is stale news as I told Ivy in my last letter all about my five days leave. Well Vol there is really no news worth relating. Sorry to hear you have been ill & hope you are quite well again by now. I have been pretty fair myself but not well enough to take on football so you see I am not

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exactly myself yet. If you ever have a snap of yourself, Ivy & Noni please send one over & I also wish Vol that your letters were not quite so long between each other. Why it is months now since I had a letter. But then I suppose you work & Ivy & baby well then neither of you have too many leisure moments.
Don’t you think we are winning? You saw we pushed Fritz so hard that we pushed him right through Russia & now Russia has pushed back they’re pushed him right into Italy. Still we’re winning but then we are easily doped. Well Vol old boy I must really close now so give my best love to Sis, Noni & self & give my kindest regards to all your people. Must try & get another leave before I go to France. Am due for it on 9/11/17 but if I am shifted to draft camp before then I will do it in. Well ta ta Vol till next mail & I remain the same old stick Hal

[Page 50]
Parkhouse
5/12/17

Dear Sis & Vol,
Just a short note to let you know I am leaving for France on Friday. I was on a draft to leave last week but was pulled off at last minute but anyway I was not left long in peace as I am on this one & fourth on the list too. Am feeling OK so you need not worry about me. I have had no letters since that one about the strike. Needless to tell you that not one in ten here

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are voting for conscription About the only votes they will get here are from those who have good jobs here in England or at the bases in France, for I’m sure that no man who has been in it would be in any way the means of bringing others into it. Have enclosed a snap a mate took of me but it is not too good at all. Anyway I suppose by now you will have got a photo from Laurel as she told me they had arrived alright. We had snow here yesterday so you can guess our weather here is a bit different to what you are having at present.

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& pictured myself sitting down to a good Xmas dinner this year but am afraid it will be the same as last Xmas. Say Vol this writing is pretty crook but it is my seventh letter & it is so cold I can hardly hold the pen in my hand. I really have no news worth talking about so you must forgive me for writing such a short letter. I know you are pleased to hear that I am well so as long as I write enough to tell you that, that you will not mind. We have heard very little here about the referendum, but they have printed a proclamation

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that sounds quite alright but not for me thanks. Well Sis & brother I will close now so accept fond love for yourself & baby from your Brother Hal

[Page 54]
9/1/18
Dear Sis,
Just a short note to let you know I am still going on alright. Have had no letters from you since the one Vol sent typewritten about the strike. Still I suppose I will get one soon. Needless to say I am always on the look out for letters. I suppose Noni will soon be able to play the piano or at least give plenty

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of cheek. Just as well her Uncle isn’t home or he would be teaching her a few tricks & getting hunted out of the house by her mother & father. I suppose Tom is the father of another now. I heard Ruth was that way months ago but have heard nothing fresh. In fact I have had no letters at all for nearly two months. Have had none since I came back to France at all. We are having very cold weather now; plenty of snow & ice. Ice-skating

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is in full swing but I only go in for ice-sliding but as I told you all about it this time last year it is useless to repeat it again. I had several pretty hard bumps you know the bloomin’ ice seems to jump up & hit you, but I have not hurt myself & don’t know whether to say I am lucky or unlucky in not doing so. Anyway Sis I have had

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a good spell out of the line & must not grumble at being sent up again. Have never heard whether you got my photo off Laurel but I suppose she would not forget to send you one. I mean the big photo taken in London not that little snap I sent you some few weeks back. Well dear Sis will close now so give my love to Vol & also a big kiss for Noni. Say, can she say Uncle Hal yet. Oh well ta-ta- Sis & fondest love from your brother Hal.

[Page 58]
France
15/2/18

My Dear Sis & Vol,
I received your letter dated Oct 9th & also your Xmas card. Altogether I received 28 so you can bet I have been pretty busy writing; it was the first mail I had received for over ten weeks. Laurel was an easy first with six letters & a card with Auntie second with four. Am very sorry I have disappointed you about not going back to France but I have already written & told you how it was I came back again. I have not been passed

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as fit here yet so am still in the orchestra. I am writing this letter now in YMCA in Town as we are playing here at 4 oclock till eight. We have a pretty decent time one way & another. We had a glorious turn out last night over in one of the Tommy camps but the majority of us got pretty tight [indecipherable]. Sis don’t think by that I include myself as I am still the same old teetotaller. Have not got any Xmas parcels yet except one from the residents of Seven Hills but hope they will turn up soon. Have not the least idea how long I will be kept here so I may be in well amongst it again when you read this. You

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may think I’m mad but I am looking forward to having another go & perhaps this time may get a dinkum blighty. Would not even venture to suggest when this war will end, but think I will be lucky if I get home for next Xmas. I am indeed looking forward to the day when I will be back home again. I am sorry for poor Laurel. She tries to hide it from me but I can tell by every letter how she feels.
So glad to hear little Noni is getting on so well. I hope she is not old enough to

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understand that her Uncle Yaddle didn’t send a birthday present to her but then Sis you can easily understand why I didn’t I had a few francs to spare one day since being here but as I had promised Aunt Flo & Kate a small present I spent them on some serviette rings and sent them home. Also sent Laurel a small pair of brass statues for her birthday, what a paltry gift for a 21st birthday I will have to make it all up when I come home. In any case Sis if you ever send any photos either of yourself or baby don’t send anything larger than a post-card as I would not be able to carry it with me. The last photo I sent you of myself

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was not a good one at all but I thought you would like it. This is the first letter since Vol’s typewritten one about the strike. I was indeed very thin in that post card of the three of us but still that smile is hard to kill as we are all a happy go lucky lot over here. But of course there are times when alone or at church when the padre is speaking about our home folk that one gets a tear in his eye, but when ever you see two or more together the laugh is always there. What’s the use of worrying anyhow

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Have not received the letter Vol wrote telling me his [indecipherable] was coming over. Tell Vol [indecipherable] doesn’t always stick to [indecipherable] about my letters for I have your cutting from one saying [indecipherable] had been retained for [indecipherable] at the Commonwealth [indecipherable] sounds alright but I don’t think I mentioned [indecipherable] in any of my letters. You are quite right about the writing paper. If it was written on the semi-perforated it would make no difference to me so long as I could read it. Heard all about the new arrival at Tom’s place. I suppose you will be having a second again soon. If you do [indecipherable] Vol to prove himself a [indecipherable] tradesman, as I can teach a boy a few tricks to [indecipherable]

[Page 64]
up on his mother & dad, but afraid I would make him too cheeky. We are having very decent weather this winter, ever so much better than last year. We had a month of real spring weather. So far we have only had [indecipherable] heavy falls of snow, although it looks & feels like more today. Well dear it is [indecipherable] to 4 & my news is about finished too so will have to bring this letter to a close. By the time you get this I will have been married two years & nothing to show for it.

[Page 65]
Sometimes I feel sorry that I didn’t give Laurel her wish but still Sis I’m not home yet & one never knows. Give little Miss Noni a heap of kisses for me & tell her, her silly old uncle is playing soldiers again somewhere on the map. Give kindest regards to Vol’s people & tons of love & kisses for yourself. You ought to have had quite a number of letters & cards from me by now because if I don’t feel in the humor to write letters I send cards. Once again good-bye & good luck & best wishes for all your welfare & happiness from your Brother Hal.

[Page 66]
Mr Vol Molesworth
C/O Evening news Office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 67]
19/2/18
Dear Sis & Vol
Have just received your letter & snap of Noni dated 4/11/17. Am sorry I have not time to write you a letter but I have had 46 in 8 days & I can only answer them by sending cards as I am going up the line tomorrow. Am glad you are all well again. Noni has indeed changed unless that photo is not a good one. Thanks ever so much for it. Am glad you like my photo. Do not worry about me going up the line as I may get another little “blighty” Hoping you are all well & happy & having the best of luck. I am your loving old brother Hal.

[Page 68]
Reverse of postcards show photos of Le Havre – La Jetee et le Semaphore; La Bourse

[Page 69]
France
1/3/18
My Dear Sis,
Have just received another letter dated 16/12/17. That is the latest letter I have received. I had a couple from Laurel, her latest was 10/12/17, so you have at last been a winner, but not in numbers. It is a most bitterly cold day to-day, snowed all night & today it has rained & is blowing half a gale. About the coldest wind I have felt in France. Am glad to hear that my little niece is getting on so well. I answ answered your last letter in a hurry & forget whether I thanked you for the snap. I do not think it can be a good one although it is very nice but I like the little one best (the one you sent cut oval shaped). Of course you know by now that I am back with my unit & posted as stretcher-bearer again. At present we are out of the line for a spell but go in again on Monday. Am glad to hear your view of conscription. The boys never seemed in doubt over here

[Page 70]
that it would be turned down. As I wrote all my views about it recently I will not repeat them again as we are limited to two pages here. I think all the boys here are keeping their spirits up very well. It is only when one is alone that he gets a bit downhearted but taking it right through it is wonderful the amount of fun one can get out of this life. We were to have held our brigade sports today but they were postponed owing to the bad weather. Am sorry to say that a lot of the old faces I knew before are missing now. You see I was away about ten months & there were some pretty hard stunts during my absence. I overestimated my fitness the other day & played football & have been pretty sore ever since. What do you think of the pretty ink I made it out of indelible pencil. Well dear old Sis give my love & kindest regards to all Vol’s people, a bundle of kisses for my little niece & fondest love to you & Vol from your brother Hal.

[Page 71]
O.A.S
Mr Vol Molesworth
C/O Evening News office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 72]
France
13/3/18
Dear Sis & Vol
I have just received your letter & pamphlets. They have caused a great deal of arguments but the majority of us here were on your side at the “con. voting”. The soundest argument I think is the one about wheat, they cannot get away from that but with the others it is different as the “fors” wont see further than their nose & will not look ahead. Again Vol a part of the argument is up to putty as They compare wages with Germany but why not with England (they get more now in England than ever they did before) so I don’t see how they could cut the wages down. I thought the argument a bit weak but cannot write a long enough letter to go into all of them. Am pleased to hear you will be contesting the seat again but you are up against a very popular (at

[Page 73]
present) man. I have met dozens of boys here who know you & wish you the best of luck. There are several in our unit who come from Auburn. I met a chap named Percy Hall who knows you very well. Also Shirt & Mat Batey. The last two are in our unit. There are dozens of others but too numerous to mention. They all say they wont be duped this time so I think it will be a bit different to last election. We are having very decent weather again now, still cold &
frosty every morning though. We, in the army still get plenty to eat but things are none too good in England. Well Vol there is not much I can do for you individually but there is plenty I can & will do for your party especially with those arguments & statements in the paper. Am afraid Sis will think this a dry letter but never mind. Must close now so wishing you Sis & Noni the best of health Happiness & (luck) I am your loving brother Hal

[Page 74]
Mr V. Molesworth
C/O Evening news office
Market St
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 75]
France
28/4/18

My Dear Sis,
It is months since I last heard from you the last letter I had from you was when you went to see Pa and Noni called him “Puss” Anyway I am tired of waiting as perhaps they are on their way so I am just writing to let you know I am quite alright &
as fit as the proverbial fiddle. I cannot tell you any war news but if you could see any of Laurel’s letters you would get a good description of some of the French villages that have been abandoned. None of you over there can realise what a bad time some of these poor french people have been having. In some cases the people have left in practically what they stood up in, as there are plenty of clothes, all the furniture, ornaments, pictures still left. In one village

[Page 76]
there were four pianos, one double keyboard organ & a billiard table. Of course I mean in different houses and some most beautiful bronze ornaments worth about £ 20 each in one house. I would like to have them in my own house. One good thing for us there were plenty of potatoes & all the appliances for cooking them too. Needless to say we had a game of billiards & tried the pianos too. The second time we were in that village we went along to play billiards again but someone had evidently taken one ball as a souvenier so that’s mucked the game up. Of course when fritz started his tricks we ducked down the cellars. Well dear Sis I hope I will soon hear from you again. I had a letter from Aunt Jen the other day. Auntie told me you & Noni were well so I get news about you that way. Well dear Sis will close now with fondest love to you Noni & Vol from your brother Hal 15526 Pte Vick
 

[Page 77]
Mrs V. Molesworth
85 Alice St Auburn

Market St
Sydney 
Hampstead Road
Flemington
Sydney
N. S. W.
Australia

[Page 78]
15526 Pte Vick
France
30/5/18

My Dear Sister,
Have just received your letter dated 31/3/18. It is such a long time too since I heard from you. Will certainly be on the lookout for that parcel, but I have been on the lookout some time now for several parcels that I know have been sent. I knew that photo was pretty rotten but all the same I thought you would like it. Thanks very much for Noni’s photo it is just lovely. No dear Sis your talk of baby does not bore me. It just makes me wish to be back so as I could see her. I got a Cum. Times a week ago & there had evidently been a picture or paragraph marked with blue pencil. Anyway it was cut out when I got it but whether by Vol or some other I do not know. I think you must have some

[Page 79]
conspiracy about me as Lol hints at twins in her letter. I would make you look [indecipherable] I fooled you by having twins. Dear Sis I do not what to think about what would have happened if Lol had not taken on work. It is pretty rotten when you come to think that there are hundreds of single railway boys over here getting their full money made up & yet I had to resign. But thank goodness I have indeed got a wonderful wife. She also tells me that young Bob has obtained permission to get married, what a kick in the neck for Lol & I especially if she hops right in for a baby but never mind I may get home some day to try my hand. Have not had a letter this mail from Aunt but perhaps it is delayed in Blighty

[Page 80]
I have met Tom Welch & P. Davis several times now & missed seeing C. Lewington last night by about ten minutes. I was in that stunt the other day in which we captured that village but was lucky enough again to come out with a whole skin. We were kept working pretty hard for about 24 hours. I sent you a card about a fortnight ago for your birthday. I could not get a decent one, in fact the one I sent I found in one of the deserted villages so it will be a souvenier as well. Am glad to hear Aunt Flo is looking so well I haven’t heard from her now for over a month. Do not know whether you will understand this scribble but I am writing in a dugout hardly big enough to sit up in. We are having real summer

[Page 81]
weather here now & it is just simply glorious. We get about in our shirts & shorts. I would like to write & give you a full account of the different stunts I have been in but you know it is impossible to do so. I suppose Noni will be quite a woman by the time I get home. I showed her to all the boys & they all say what a lovely kiddie she is. I suppose you will have her playing the piano before she can talk properly. By the way Tom & [indecipherable] & also Bill Pincott all wish to be remembered to you. Well dear Sis that is all I can write at present so will conclude with fondest love to you, Noni & Vol from your brother Hal.
Have only received about three lots of paper cuttings from Vol

[Page 82]
C/- Evening News office
Sydney  
Mrs Vol. Molesworth
85 Alice Street
Auburn 
Hampstead Road
Flemington
Sydney
N.S.W. Australia

[Page 83]
15526 Pte Vick
France
16/6/18
My Dear Sis
Just a line f wishing you Many Happy Returns of today. I hope you got my card in time for your birthday. I have not got your parcel yet but I had a beauty from Laurel yesterday. I thought when they told me there was a parcel for me that it must have been yours but never mind it is still something to look forward to. We are out of the line now for a spell & we are real glad too as we had a couple of stunts in this time. The last one was made very lively by his intense shell fire & we were kept busy for three or four days. I was hit in four different places & each off a different shell but did not get them hard enough for a blighty. I had a piece of skin knocked off

[Page 84]
my arm & leg & a bruise on the ribs. The other piece cut my boot just above the ankle. Anyway Sis I am out of it now & the spell will soon have us fit for another stunt. There is sure to be some now the fine weather is here. Everything is lovely where the fields are red with poppies & there are also lovely blue flowers & white daisies & all the grass & trees are lovely & green so if it wasn’t for the war it could not be better. Well Sis dear there is nothing I can write now so give little Noni a big kiss from her uncle & give my love to all Vol & all & of course accept the same old love from your brother Hal

[Page 85]
France
26/6/18
My Dear Sis,
Have just received your letter of 22nd April. Have had letters from everybody this mail you say Lol is a bit fatter, another says she seems a bit taller & a third says if anything she has grown better looking so am I to believe all or none. Heard all about the wedding & I think they did the right thing in letting her get married for her people used to worry over her a lot. Of course I am not saying whether there was reason to worry or not but I think I knew Bob as well as any one & what I know I know & “nuff sed”. I have received the four photos you have

[Page 86]
sent & like the one at 12 months the best. I think it is just lovely. My word she has grown a bonnie kiddie. Am surprised to hear that Liz Cunningham has got so thin. It is hard to believe it. Also had a letter & photo from Aunt Flo & she does look well only the face was a pretty well blurred. I like the way the old bloke hops in especially the finish up of his letter, but say what have you done to him to make him say you are both blanks. You don’t want to stop till you have a pair you know. Poor Lol says she couldn’t help having a cry when she saw Bob as a bride, it brought

[Page 87]
back to her the happy day she spent the same way. I knew it would upset her a bit but I am glad she got home for it. She would be silly to let her job stand between her & home. Don’t you think she is a brick to work like that while I am away. We have been out of the line for a fortnight spelling but today is our last day. Some of us are going up the line tonight. We have had some pretty hot stunts since I last wrote. The last one being the hottest of the lot. I was hit in four places & each off a different shell but they did not even give me a blighty.

[Page 88]
I was hit in the arm & ribs, leg & ankle. The one on the leg was the worst as it has left a lovely bruise. The ankle one cut right through my boot so I got a new pair of boots out of it.
We had a great dinner & sports last week. Also one of the bands in attendance. The dinner consisted of soup, fish rissoles, roast beef, ham, peas, beans, mashed & baked potatoes, plum pudding & sauce, canned fruit, custard, jellies, strawberries, cake, biscuits, lollies, chocolate & cigarettes with rum punch, beer & coffee to drink. The band played all rags after the dinner & as nearly

[Page 89]
everybody was well oiled well you can imagine the scenes. Everyone trying to rag on the grass & falling all over each other. It was indeed a very merry evening.
Do not know what to think about the past parcel it may have been yours. At any rate there were two books two bottles of home made jam tin of salmon & two tins of sugar & a pair of sox. It was most welcome but I do wish they would put a slip of paper in it so as I will know who it is from. Do not be at all surprised if you don’t hear from me for a month as we are going up the line tonight & I have no envelopes left & cannot buy any for love nor money

[Page 90]
& have had to write about a dozen letters & have two envelopes left & I have to answer Lols yet. I left hers & yours till last as if I had not written to the others first I might have fibbed on it. Well dear old Sis there is no more news I can tell you so will conclude with fond love to you Noni & Vol from your loving brother Hal

[Page 91]
C/O Evening News Office
Sydney 
Mrs V. Molesworth
Alice St
Auburn
Manly Sydney 
35 Wentworth Road
Manly. N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 92]
15526 Pte Vick
France
1/7/18
My Dear Sis,
Many thanks for parcel which I received yesterday. Have not finished the cigars yet or read all the papers. The cigars are just lovely. I met Fred Gale again. I do not know that you know him but he remembers you very well from playing at the town dances. Anyway I strolled up to see him with some cigars in my pocket & as soon as I crawled into his “bivvy” he brought a big birthday cake to light. We then went into a village for some champagne but could only get red wine “Vin rouge”. Anyway we had quite a little birthday party wine, cake & cigars. He wishes to be remembered to you & also will give Vol his vote if the elections come off. Also received a parcel from the Blacktown Juvenile Knitting Club so I am not doing too badly. Have enclosed

[Page 93]
one of the bands & by the way Sis none of the cigars were broken. We are having glorious summer weather again & as there is a canal & lakes right near us, we have a great time in the water. You would laugh to see the way we get about in just a pair of shorts & boots & socks, nothing else & sometimes not even our boots & sox. We are looking just like blacks now but are all in the best of health. We are in the line again but our section is lucky as we are back in supports. Well dear Old Sis there is no more news. Give Noni a big love & kiss for me & remember me to all Vol’s people. Well dear Sis must close now so fondest love to you & Vol from your brother Hal

[Page 94]
Mr Vol. Molesworth
C/O Evening News office
Market St
Sydney 
92 Sydney Road
Manly
N.S.W.
Aussie

Mrs Vol Molesworth
Alice St
Auburn
Sydney 
92 Sydney Road
Manly
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 95]
O.A.S
23 AUG 18

Mr Vol. Molesworth
C/O Evening news office
Market St 
92 Sydney Road
Manly
Sydney
N.S.W
Australia

[Page 96]
France
17/8/18
Dear Vol & Sis
I received your letter of 6 June a few days ago but this is the first opportunity I have had to answer it. We are back at the A.D.S. (Advanced dressing station) & are most likely going out for a week or two’s spell tomorrow. We have been in for nearly seven weeks & have been in the line since this last stunt started 8/8/18. It was a glorious stunt & I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. We are barred from giving an account of it but no doubt you will have got the guts of it from the papers. I am quite alright & never got a scratch out of it although one night I was partially buried. Am sorry to hear about Ivy’s mishap but of course she will be quite alright by now, anyway I sincerely hope so. So pleased to hear that Noni is doing so well. She must be growing

[Page 97]
a bonnie kiddie by now. She will be quite a young woman by the time I get home. I got a few souveniers this time, four different decoration ribbons, 20, 5, 2 & 1 mark notes watch, ring & various other articles, & some of the filthiest post cards imaginable, but I soon gave them away.
Could tell you quite a lot if I was allowed but anyway it will be some interesting things that I can tell you when I do get home. Well Vol there is no other news I can tell you. Charlie Lewington wishes to be remembered to you & Sis. Give my kindest regards to all your folk & fondest love to Noni, Sis & self from your brother Hal.
15526 Pte F H Vick

[Page 98]
Mrs Vol Molesworth
Alice St
Auburn 
92 Sydney Road
Manly
Sydney
N S W
Australia

[Page 99]
BLIGHTY
Birmingham
Rubery Hill
No 1 War Hospital
4C Ward
8/9/18
My Dear Sis
Just a short note to let you know that I am getting on fine. I was wounded at Mt St Quentin on 31/8/18 in the left leg, thigh & face. That is what no doubt the official list will say. Well my leg wound has completely healed up it was about 3 inches below the knee. My thigh wound has healed up inside but I think it healed too quick as I have to stop in bed today as a lot of matter came out this morning. It was about two inches deep & about as big as a penny. The wound is about four inches above the knee at the back.
I had four scratches on the face the worst being at the angle of the jaw. They have all healed up but under the skin

[Page 100]
is a pretty hard little lump so I have been xrayed but do not have the result. I have told you all these details as it looks bad on paper when they say wounded in leg thigh & face. I would tell you lots more & how I was wounded etc but I am always frightened Vol will stick something in the paper. Anyway I can tell you this much that I had twelve huns carrying three stretchers & three were blown to atoms one an arm off another a leg off & three others wounded. My mate, there were two of us had a wound in arm & leg. I was bearing for the 20th Bn at the time. You see we always get attached to the infantry now when any stunts are on. Well Sis that is about all I can tell you as regards the war. I am glad to be out of it for a while as although we went out a few times

[Page 101]
for a spell of a week or ten days we were never out of shell fire. We came down to the Somme about the 2nd April & have been under fire every day since then. I have been in every stunt our division has had & to name all the little villages & hills we have captured would take a better memory than mine. I don’t keep a diary. I have had ten minor wounds that I didn’t leave the unit with. I was unlucky in a way as Peronne was captured the morning after I was knocked so I just missed it.
We get tons to eat in this hospital. I have been here several days & have not once been able to eat all the dinner they pile on my plate & you know I can eat some. My friends from Birmingham are coming to see me today this place is about eight miles from Berm. My hair is still

[Page 102]
very short but all the same I will have my photo taken again when I go on furlough. Do not expect to be in hospital more than a week although it will be about two months I reckon before I get back to my unit. Well dear give my love to Vol & Noni. I suppose young Noni is quite a girl now & can point out her old uncles photo. We are still having very decent weather although it has rained a bit for two days. Well dear old Sis that is about all my news so will conclude with fondest love & kisses from your loving brother Hal

[Page 103]
[Postcard titled Xmas 1918]

[Page 104]
[Blank page]

[Page 105]
[Blank page]

[Page 106]
[Printed verse]

[Page 107]
[Printed Xmas and New Year greetings from Fifth Australian Field Ambulance, France]
To Sis with love
Harold

[Page 108]
[Blank page]

[Page 109]
[Blank page]

[Page 110]
[Blank page]

[Page 111]
Australian Imperial Force
4/11/1918
Dear Sis,
Am enclosing card (photo) just to let you know I am O.K. again. I am not going to write a long letter as I must surely get one from you. I cannot understand Vol enlisting at all. I am going on my fourteen days furlough on Wednesday but it is awful weather, raining & blowing as hard as can be. It has been like it nearly a week. The other boy is Teddie Gale from Blacktown. He is waiting to go home. I have a good job now on the massage staff & will not be going PTO

[Page 112]
back to France any more
I may even get 
Well dear Sis I will not write more for I am sure there must be a letter on its way from you. I got four today but none from you. I have not had one from you since before I was wounded.
Give all my love to little or big now Noni & remember me to Vol & his people.
Will send you a card on furlough
Fondest love from your brother Hal

[Page 113]
[Photograph of two soldiers in uniform. They are probably Privates Vick and Gale but there is no confirmation of their names]

[Page 114]
[Reverse of postcard with photograph of two soldiers]
To Sis
With love from Hal

[Page 115]
Mrs Vol Molesworth
C/O Miss R. McCoy
Blacktown 
Sydney N S W
Australia
Post office
La Perouse

[Page 116]
Weymouth
Australian Imperial Force
22/11/1918
My Dear Sis
At last I have had a letter from you. I thought you had died or something like that. I heard all about your illness dear but I have written several times since then. However I have a letter now so never mind about the past. I am so glad you are feeling a bit like yourself again & as for being fat well I think we are a good pair. I was indeed surprised to hear about Vol enlisting but hope the armistice was signed before he sailed. I think he was very foolish to enlist however it is all over now so it does

[Page 117]
not matter Am glad you are staying with someone you know instead of boarding at a strangers. However I suppose you have Vol back again now. Yes Sis time does fly & as you say I haven’t even seen my niece & she is two years old. I am indeed looking forward to seeing her. I have just had my fourteen days furlough & I could not have timed it better for I was in London for the Lord Mayors Show & also for the peace week.
London is just lovely with all the lights on again & it does not seem like the London I saw last week year & the crowds well dear it would be impossible to describe them. However I will tell you all about

[Page 118]
[Postcard showing Australian Flag and the emblem of the Australian Imperial Force]

[Page 119]
1918
Wishing you a Merry Xmas & a Prosperous New Year
Fond Love from Harold

[Page 120]
[Blank page]

[Transcriber’s notes:
Pages 34 and 35 are out of sequence. Page 34 should come after Page 35
Pages 51 and 52 are similarly out of order
Text on pages 31, 62, 63, 64, 79, 83 is obscured in page gutter]

[Transcribed by Colin Smith, Allanah Jarman for the State Library of New South Wales]