Letters from an unknown soldier, France, 1917-1918
MLMSS 8599

Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

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Roderic Castle
Somewhere in France
13.12.17

My Dear Aunt,

I have received your very welcome letter you seem to think I am quite a frenchman to be able to speak the language well enough to write it, you would be surprised how little the opportunities are to even speak to a french person, especialy where I am now, if I am not mistaken I think I have only seen at most seven french people, now that is saying a lot in France, also; nearly every one goes they mostly speak English.

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Well Aunty, I am very sorry for not sending you some Xmas cards, we were up to our necks in work, & then I went into hospital, through an accident, it was not much, I expect it came through in records, you will be worried for a while. I am alright now, I never told you how it happened, we were playing cricket when the ball rose off the ground & hit me seriously enough to put me in hospital for three months, I am back with my unit now going as strong as ever, & looking forward to that Australian leave that I do not think we will get until ’Apres le guerre’ then it will be compulsory to send us back. We had polling day here for the referendum I do not think that conscription ought to be carrried because we want men like the present generation of Australians to be in our own country [indecipherable] all is over if they send them over here they must either get killed wounded or get some action that will be with them all their life also the difference to the war would be nil practilly, you might be surprised at me for saying this but I can see a little more than the people at home Well Aunt, I will finish here hoping you are in the best of health & spirits with lots of love & best wishes for a brighter New Year from your
loving Nephew
Doddin

P.S. will you send me some more Eucalyptus stock has run out Dod

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P.S. I am sending you a little pamphlet issued by Mr Hughes I might say we heard only one side of the question which made me doubtful.
Dod

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Somewhere in France
4.9.18

My Dear Aunt,

I expect you will be wondering what has become of me for not writing for such a long time, things have been pretty busy of late, by the time you get this letter you will have heard about it all. I do not know what makes you think that I am in the Infantry, although I am attached to them, but not when they are in the line, you know that we cannot take horses into the trenches. It is rumored here that all the 19th men are going to be sent back to Australia for a short furlough, but do not [indecipherable] too much on this, as there are quite a number of them left & they are not being sent away too quickly according to the pay they are being given, it will be about two more years before I get my turn, providing I am last on the list somebody has to be it, so I hope it is not me. I am sending you a photo of the company taken just before the big push, I am seventh from the left in the second row. I might say that we all had a good clean up for the occasion, if you look close into the photo you will see a monkey on the shoulder of the man standing behind the officer on the right. I might tell you Aunty that we have had "Jacko" since 1914 we bought him in Egypt from an Arab for about one shilling, he was only a baby then, & as shy as any child could be, but let anybody try to take anything from him, however the funny part of it is I can do

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practically anything I like with him. I have just come back from my second furlough in England, I travelled about a lot this time, I left London for a place called Weymouth, stayed there for about 4 days, & then went on to a place called Taunton, from there to Bristol. Stayed in Bristol for five days, & then went back to London, so you see Aunt, I saw some of the Old Country. I spent my first leave in Edinburgh (Scotland), I am now trying to get a look at Paris but I do not like my chance, & funds are low, so I will have to save all my pennies. We have been having some wonderful weather, it makes one feel that it is good to be alive. I wrote a letter to Daphne three nights ago, I also sent her a photo. I received the Eucalyptus & malted milk you sent and they were very acceptable too especially the Eucalyptus when  everybody comes to me for a drop of it when they catch a cold, I managed to buy some in france, but it was not nearly up to the Australian make, just about half as strong. I do not get the same opportunity of learning French now that villages are always empty of people where we are. I will conclude this letter here Aunty and I cannot say where I am, I would like to tell you all about it, but I am not allowed. So trusting it finds you in the best of health and of high spirits, I will finish with

lots of affection
from your loving
Nephew
Doddin

[Transcribed by Judy Macfarlan for the State Library of New South Wales]