Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Letters sent by Thomas Bell to Beatrice Bell and their children, ca. September 1915-27 November 1916
MLMSS 9576 / Box 1 / Folder 1
[Thomas Bell Number 3770, was a miner aged 32 5ft 2 inches tall, with a wife Beatrice and four children from Great (just west of Maitland) in NSW when he enlisted on 6 September 1915 in the 9th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion. He wrote home regularly although not very literate and some of his spelling is amusing e.g. Kearnel for Colonel. He was also clearly very homesick missing his wife and children. The letters are fairly mundane but every now and then he lets things slip and some of his character comes through as well as the situation in the trenches e.g. seeing sandbags and bodies flying overhead; nerves all shook up. So as not to spoil the diary for the reader, the outcome of Tom Bell’s war is shown at the end of the diary.]
[Page 1]
[Written on Salvation Army writing paper provided to the troops. The letter is not dated]
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to do a bit of smooging. Love i received your letter on Wednesday evening. It came to Holdsworthy and they sent it to Liverpool in a mistake so by the time I got it i tell you i was bloody wild but never mind i will fix that up on monday night. We will not be out till monday evening so i will be up in the Mid night tell Frida it is bad luck i will have to be back in camp on the 19th i dont [Indecipherable]
Beat they are shifting all this camp and making it into a light horse camp. be going tomorrow Friday to a place called Casula next stopping place past Liverpool about a mile. all level ground so that will be better. Love this contact is one of the best for tucker but you are goaled in. we have all sorts of vegetables no stew all roasts and big joints boiled onions rice, i am writing to Kearsly now. No time for more breakfast coming fried chops, boiled onions, cabbage and rice after our potatoes run out. Love to all from your loving Husband Tom.
for my ever Loving Darling Beat Sweetest
Kisses for Alma xxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxx
[Page 2]
[Written on Presbyterian Church of Australia paper provided to the troops – undated]
T, Bell
C. Company
20 Battalion
Casula
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to say i landed at the Camp Safe on Sunday night without paying a penny. I did not do any drill on monday i seen the doctor and got some liniment and i drilled to day tuesday but the leg is sore yet. it is lovely weather up here not too hot.
it is the military sports here at Liverpool on Friday and Saturday and we have got to be their to march. So i will not get to Wollongong till Saturday night then i will be down for Christmas at home i think we are getting five days off we will have a booker time together i hope you get your house at the glebe write quick and let me know their is no more news Beat hoping all is well at home love from your ever loving Husband Tom Kisses
Beat xxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxx
[Page 3]
[Written on Presbyterian Church of Australia paper provided to the troops – undated and no heading]
a bit of stew for breakfast stew for dinner not two bloody much of it you are not allowed to eat it in your tent you have to sit out in the bloody sun and wind and dust they call it gravel stew, then the bloody finish is tea 1 tin of jam 2 loafes of bread for eleven of us. Eleven sleeps in one tent no straw bags here you have to sleep on the bloody hard ground. Their is no more news this time think of me to morrow night, good Luck to Jess hope its twins is a joke.
Kisses for you xxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Answer strait Back
[Page 4]
[Written on Salvation Army writing paper. The letter is not dated]
T. Bell
C. Company
20th Battalion
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to say i arrived home safe on Monday night. Their was four soldiers got in at Sydney and we broke every window in the carrage and when we got to Liviepool their had been another big riot broke everything in the pubs and in the shops and knocked the police to pieces. The reason i did not write before because i was waiting for the pay to day wednesday 15 day I met Mr Kearsly in newcastle and explained about your back money so you will get it any day. This is a beter camp than the other will give you more news next time my arm is shaking to much and paining we got inockulated again to day from Tom
Kisses for you beat i wish i was home to give them xxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 5]
26/1/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to let you know i am in the pink of condition we left sydney on the Thursday i sent a post card to you i lowered it down on a bit of wire to some fellows in a little boat to post i would like to know i they posted it. Beat we are well out now i am eating like a horse i have not been sick once but plenty has we have not seen land for days you see nothing but water day and night we land at our first place on Sunday but we cannot get off the boat that is bad luck we are not supposed to say where we land or what boat we are on but it is a good boat plenty to eat and a bit of drill and plenty to read and any sort of game you like. The only thing that is troubling me is weather you have shifted or not when you do shift you want to write strait to the Victoria Barracks and let them know your address if they send it to Greta make arrangements for Billy to get it and forward it on to you till they get your new address. [A sentence appears to have been censored]. The only bit of rough we have had was going through the [again a word censored] plenty of up and down there every body seems in the best of Spirits. their is no news Beat you see nothing but water no tram accidents here
[Page missing]
[Page 6]
29/1/16
Dear Beat & Family
The captain told us yesterday that we would be landing at Fremantle at 4 oclock in the morning and we would be allowed off for 2 hours so i thought i would write this letter and post it myself the others they read them first so we dont know whether they send them or not. From Fremantle we have another 10 days trip before we land the name of the place is Columbo that is where all the Blacks are. Beat i was as pleased as punch yesterday when i went to put that singlet on and found your note pined on the inside. Beat no flap but i dont know what i would do without that photo of yours while i am writing this i have it lying on the top of this sheet i sleep with it under my head in fact i never move without it i will have it worn out with kissing it before i get back. Beat it is a very pleasant trip but i am full to the neck of it the one thing over and over again nothing but water their is any amount of enjoyment but you get full of it
[Page 7]
We get plenty of drill it is alright to see some vomiting and falling all over the place. Their are 17 hundred of us on board now and we pick up 2 hundred more at Fremantle i dont know where they are going to sleep we are prity full up now. Some times i get down hearted and wonder what the hell i enlisted for i will go away and sit for hours with your photo in my hand looking at it but i will be all right when i get over there. Their is one of my mates never been off his back since we left i dont think he has eat 3d of his tucker since we left i went to the head cook to day and got him some good broth but he brought it up again. Beat there is no more news only to be true and keep your pecker up i will soon be back again. Love to all From your ever true Loving Husband Tom. Keep showing Alma my Photo
Beat xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Love to All
Give Jess & Billy and Baby my love
[Page 8]
Feb 6/2/1916
I have written to Harry and my Mother. So dont show any body this one private xxxx
Dear Beat
I am just writing these few lines thinking i might get a chance to post them myself at [word deleted]. Well Beat i wish your trouble was over and i knew. it would be a load off mind and that you had shifted down to the Glebe i would be alright. But something tells me it will not be long before i am back and i tell you i will take a lot of shifting again a man never knows what it is like till he has left i only wish i had of give it the second thought but never mind i have your photo to look at i wish you would get yours and the childrens took and send one over a post card. Beat it is four oclock in the morning when i am writing this i have been on guard over the Canteen Since 8 Oclock on Sunday morning till 8 Monday Morning. There is no more news Beat so do not be downhearted and care the Tucker into you i am alright eating like a horse so good luck and god bless you and the Children
Be true Write strait back
From your ever Loving True Husband Tom
Beat xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 9]
Feb 6/2/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am alright so far hoping you are all the same. We landed at Fremantle on the 29th and only had 2 hours off the boat and away again i would like to have run out to Perth but we had no time their was a lot went out but they all got left behind they will be classed as deserters. I was very lucky myself and my mates we got a few in in those 2 hours the boat was out in the stream so we got in a ferry boat and it took us over and we climbed up the side i expect when i am coming back i will not be wanting to stop any where. we have not seen land since we left fremantle we are expecting to get to our next stop on Wednesday morning. We had a very good days sport on the boat yesterday there was Tug of war. scratch pulling & rope quoit tournament. all sorts of jumping. Wrestling. And the best of all was a boxing Tournament their was some of the best fighting i have ever seen. Beat their is not much news to tell you as we never see land to tell you anything about
[Page 10]
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line hoping you are alright as it leaves me at present. We arrived at Colombo on the 9th of Feb and sailed again on the 10th. Well Beat they would not let us go off the boat on our own but they took us for a rout march through Colombo for about 5 Hours it is the funniest place I ever saw in my life you talk about blacks their are thousands of them the first we saw of them were some right out in the ocean fishing they were in Canoes cut out of the trunks of trees two and three in each boat. Their would not be enough room in one for Annies big leg to go in side. But when we landed their were hundreds in boats selling bannayers and Cocoanuts for near nothing and others swimming all round us we would get some to climb up the side of our boat and somebody would throw them 3d and they would dive from the top of boat and get it. They would deafen you singing out me die master you trow in siler and the soldiers would throw in something and they would dive like blackshags.
Their was one of them with one arm he would come up and dive from the top and fetch some of the bottom of the ocean up he would be under for about six minutes. When i come home Beat i will be able to sit and talk to you about the blacks for a month alone. When we were on our rout march there were hundreds running after us selling every thing the kids licked me they all have their ears cut and a cork shoved in the cut
[Page 11]
S.S. Runic
Dear Beat
I am very glad to say that we will be landing at our final place tomorrow Monday 21st Feb. Beat when i receive a letter from you to say wheather you have shifted to the Gleabe or not i will wire @pound;5. to you i have eight luck has changed. Beat you are the only one i am writing to this time so let my mother know when we landed i have a bad cold in the big head and i tell you it is aching. excuse writing as the boat is rocking. i will be getting my photo taken when i land So be good From your ever loving Husband Tom
Let me know when little Tom is home.
Family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
i will rite as soon as i see around egypt
[Page 12]
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to say we landed safe and sound at Alexandria on Saturday 26th of February and left by train at quarter to three in the morning for cairo 8 hours ride. The night we left their was a big steamer caught fire there were 4,000 cases of petrol on it so you can guess it was a beauty it was the biggest fire i ever saw in my life. I cannot tell you much about this camp yet Beat but i do not go much on it so far i wish they would shake it up and let us get into the firing line. You can tell Sim Powell that Jack Powell is here with us i know a terrible lot of the Australians here Joe Shaksphere is here and George Madich. Sam Harris and all the old Battalion that i was in before we got put in contact that time. Beat Egypt is the queerest place you ever saw you get paid in their money here and it is laughable you get mixed up with it there is no shilling or any thing like that it is all Piastre i will fetch some back with me there is nothing else but blacks here they will drive you mad wanting to clean your boots for on Half Piastre that means 1½ a penny farthing in our money
[Page 13]
others wanting to shave you for 1 Piastre 2½ and others running up to with matches and any thing at all for money. You can get on a donkey for about 4 hours for 2½ we had a ride yesterday all over the place the donkey boys run after you knocking it along with a cane. Beat their is no more news as i have not much time here but i a sick of looking at blacks. and Donkeys and Camels. Beat i only wish that you and the family are in as good as health as myself i am real well so good night from your ever Loving Husband Tom. Beat be true. give my best love to all i have not had a letter from you yet i will be happy when i do write Strait Back Beat
Beat xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i wish i was home to have them
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Good night
Little Tom. only hope its right xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 14]
Mar 12/3/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to say i am tip top i have not had five minutes sickness since i left . I have just come back from Cairo there are some prety sights there are some of the largest buildings i ever saw they are up as high as you like to look. Beat i got into some trouble last weak but i got out of it without a stain on my character i was sitting on the tram and one of the niggers said he would sell four oranges for one Piastre so i handed him the money and he only gave me three and made off but i jumped through the window and caught him and i hit him under the Jaw laid him out and when he came around they found his jaw was broke so the military police wanted to know what happened so i told them what happened and i had to give them my number and was paraded before the Kearnel next morning and got out of it. Beat i only wish i had a letter from you i get down hearted as i dont know how you are or the children or wheather you are receiving your money regular or not i would love to know if you have shifted or not you can tell Jess it is no use me writing to Billy because if you are still in Greta Jess will see all your letters you two Kecklers
[Page 15]
Beat i do not know what sort of weather you are having over their but here it would roast you in the day and in the night you cannot keep warm. Send me over the Truth and Saturdays paper now and then after you send one lot wait till i tell you to send more as i might not get them Beat their is no more news dont worry about me as i am in the pink of condition it is me that ought to worry about you but never mind i will soon be back.
From your ever Loving True Husband Tom
Give my best Love to All Beat
Beat xxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxx
Darling Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(Tom) xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hoping you are All well
[Page 16]
April 16/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to say i am in the best of health hoping you are all the same i am just having a bit of a rest we do not get any sleep in the nights here get a bit in the day time i am writing this note in my little dug out plenty of shots whistling over the top it is all right laying hear listning to them and they are boming our Airaplanes they fire hundreds of shots at then but never seem to hit them Just before i came in there were three of our mates talking about 5 yds from where i was firing and the Germans fired a bomb killing two of them and wounding the other severly i have seen some fine buildings burnt to the ground with the bombs bursting there is one town at the back of us i am not allowed to mention names but there is not one house that has not been hit they are smashed to bits. Beat will you buy me a pair of mits and send over it is terrible cold there is times i can hardly fire my fingers are like if they are useless it has been raining so the trenches are in a fine state i got wet through the other evening on post and caught a rotten cold it was a sleet storm it used to hang to your clothes like ice i never saw any of it in my life before. Beat there is no more news we are holding a little more than our own with them do not forget the mits i have not had a letter from you yet hoping that i get one next mail.
[Page 17]
[At top of page] Answer strait Back
Beat if ever i get a spell i will have a run over to England it is about twenty four hours journey from here and have a look at Kate and the rest. Tell the children i will not be long away now and don’t forget to shove the tucker and clothes on yourself and children give them plenty of pennys for me and Kiss them every night for me and when you are right take them to see anything never mind spending your money because you know when i come back it will be the same old thing we will wack up if you have a bob. when i come back we will have a better together time than we had before together no more beer. I am just going to open a tin of Bully Beef and a biscuit for tea so good luck from your ever loving true Husband Tom
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Beat xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fred xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chris xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Alma xxxxxxxxxxxx
X
X BEAT X
X
Pvt T. Bell 3770
20th Battalion
5th Brigade
D. Company
A.I.E.F
France
[Written sideways]
Give my love to All
let my mother know all. How is Jess and billy and the little baby i hope it keeps alright. Tell Alma i will soon be back.
[Page 18]
France May 28 1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines hoping this finds you all well as it leaves me at present excepting that i have a bad cold and sore throat bur that is classed as nothing now. I have just finished reading the sunday times that one of my mates had sent over to him and i see their is some trouble about some of the soldiers wifes not receiving their allowances i do hope to god you are getting yours alright i was enjoying a rest in my dugout when i read it so i tell you it has upset me. Beat i have not got one of my old mates left now they are all gone some dead some wounded we have been having a pretty lively time lately it is nothing to see the sandbags flying all over the top of you their is a terrible lot loses their lives shifting when the shots are coming near them i just lay flat down and never shifts till they are finished i reckon you have more chance of getting hit shifting about than staying in one place. The children will not know me when i come home i am going as grey as a badger i have got to laugh at myself i think it is with catching louse it is nothing to take your shirt off and catch 15 or 20 louse any time any one of us is lousey you cannot help it the dugouts must be full of them they are like big crabs. we see aeiraplane fights prety nearly every day
[Page 19]
over here it is great sport watching them they are in and out the clouds like swallows the Germans always seem to clear away i have only seen one brought down it looked well falling from the clouds. Beat i cannot understand not receiving one letter from you as i know you are writing every week but where they are going i do not know their has been another big mail delivered today but none for me. I would give half my life to know if you have shifted to the Glebe and if you and the children are alright Pvt. T. Bell 3770. 20th Battalion. D. Company. 5th Brigade. A.I.F. Egypt O.A.S. put this adress on Beat this time and i must get a letter some time their is no more news hoping this finds you and the children alright tell Alma i will kill the head off her when i come home kiss them all for me Beat i will return them to you when i come home give my best love to All from your ever loving
True Husband Tom
Excuse the scribbling beat as my nerves are a bit shook up
Beat xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 20]
France June 6/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am tip top hoping you are all the same. Well Beat it has started to rain here again and when it starts it does not know when to stop and it makes things very miserable in the trenches you are in it all the time you have to sleep in everything you have on here boots puddies and equipment and 120 rounds of ammunition on so i tell you it is up to ___ ___. It is nothing to see sandbags and bodies flying all over the place now you will be sitting down not a sound to be heard and all in a second it will start our Artilery will open out on their trenches knocking them to pieces of course we are laughing then the Germans will open fire on us no laughing then it is smother up. Well Beat there is no news i can tell you hoping you and the Children are all right kiss them for me.
From your ever loving
True Husband Tom
Beat xxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxx
Keep your heart up for my sake Beat XXX
[Page 21]
France June 18/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to let you know i am keeping alright hoping to god that you and the children are the same and that little Tom will be alright when i come home i dont think that will be long now. I was nearly called for on Wednesday the 15th June i just shifted my things into a new dug out laid my blanket down and got in to have two hours sleep but i forgot the box that Kate sent over so i went back for it only about twenty yards away and the Germans started to bombard our trenches so i had to lay down where i was and when they finished i went back for my sleep but there was no dug out a shell lobed strait on it and knocked it to pieces you would never know their had been a dug out their i lost all that was in it but i had all of my clothes on and that Green cover Mrs Atkinson made for my head on. I lost a lot of little nick nacks i was keeping to fetch home but they went i will not bother carting things about again. I see according to the papers that Kate sends over the Russians are giving the Australians a prety lively time of it.
[Page 22]
Beat how old is Bob Jackson poping up i expect Mrs Jackson pulled him out of it it will be a good job for him if she has for the game is no good i dont call it war i call it scientific murder. Beat you can tell them i am always asking about them i cannot be bothered writing to anybody else i have enough to do to watch my scalp. you can always let all the others know how i am to save me writing if i write to one that means i have to write to them all. This is Sunday today and i believe on Monday night they are going to take us away out of the trenches for three weeks rest as nearly every bodys nerves are going. Well Beat their is no more news so i must close with fondest love to all from your ever loving
True Husband Tom
Tell the children i will write them all a letter when i get my spell
Beat & little Tom xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
word a daddy today Alma
I am in good Health & hope you are
[Page 23]
France June 22/1916
Dearest Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am quite well and we will be out of the trenches to night for three weeks rest. The fourth Brigade has come to relieve us and it was dead funy the first ones that came in was Walter Oshea, and Darby, and Harry Criton that used to board at Don Robertsons they was always with your bob Oshea has been wounded twice Don Robinson is about three miles down form here they said they heard in Egypt that i was in France they cannot understand Bluey and Coper Conway not enlisting so i told them that Bob was away in queensland when i left and that he might have enlisted from there. Well Beat you can tell the children that I have had a good feed of cheerys from off one of the trees here there are hundreds of trees
[Page 24]
here you have to get them in the night time or else you would soon be sniped off they look bosker on the trees i bet Chris would make them hop but never mind send down to Teaseys and get them some for me. Well Beat their is no news to tell you as we only see one thing day after day. I do hope this finds you all as well as i am kiss them all for me i will have a lot to pay you back Beat from your
ever loving true
Husband Tom
Beat & little Tom xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx Freda xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx Chris xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx Alma xxxxxxxxxxx
Soon be home
[Page 25]
France July 4/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am in the best of health. I received a letter from my mother on the second but none from you i should of got it when i got your last one Beat i am ancious to get one from you so as i will know how things are and then my mind will be more content. We are out of the trenches at the present about five miles out for a bit of a rest for a fortnight and it is raining in torents so their is no pleasure their is not a house in 3 miles. You can tell Billy Nevens i was speaking to that fellow that young Teasey has his photo in the window he was working on Greta Station he was once wounded on the knee i went down to see young Mcrea but he was out. Young Jack Powell is over here but i have never seen him yet i was also speaking to some Batholue i did not
[Page 26]
know him at first. Well Beat their is no news i can tell you so you can send me all the news you can i see according to your last letter old Bob Jackson has had his final leave the ____ old fool. Tell all the children i want them to write me a letter a and also all of their photos and yours with them, Send me the names of Billys Baby and our own Beat. You never said wheather you received those photos i sent from Egypt or not i know they were not like me Beat but i have the Mo off again never more to grow one. Kiss the children for me i will pay you back before long.
From your ever loving
true Husband Tom
Give my best love to all
Beat & Baby xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 27]
Sunday August 13/1916
Just a few lines to let you know i am in tip top health and i have come out safe and sound again i expect you have read long ago about our success we gave them nothing for themselves in the last charge that was on the fourth of this month [Probably the battle for Pozieres Heights which was taking place at this time and in which the 5th Brigade was involved] we took eight hundred and sixty prisoners and god only knows how many we killed and two lines of trenches they get on their knees and sing out mercy comrade when you get near them with the bayonet but we have not got two much mercy for them. It is very exciting in a charge you can hear nothing but shells bursting allround round but you take no notice you rush over under fire and stick your bayonet into them as fast as you can and then when you have got rid of them start and get yourself dug in for your own safety then.
[The next page of the letter is missing]
[Page 28]
France Aug 29/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a few lines to let you know I am in good health hoping this finds you all the same I received Almas photo and the mits on Aug 25th and i think Alma is lovely i only wish you had all been taken together. I will get myself taken if ever we get into a town. we have just come out of the trenches again for a rest. you can tell Billy i had a yarn with Don Robinson and T. Blick that was helping old Bailey to build Billys house and i seen King from Greta and Bob Woods from the Glebe. Well Beat their is no news i can tell you as we never see anything i am receiving your letters regular every mail now and i get letters from England every week and parcels i received two letters with chewing gum in from you and Freda. no more news
From your loving
Husband Tom
Beat xxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxx
Lorna xxxxxxxxxxx
Hoping this finds you all tip top
[Page 29]
France
Friday Sep 8th 1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a couple of lines to let you know i am in tip top health hoping you are all the same i have just received three more letters and papers from you with chewing gum in the papers and one letter from brother Harry. Well Beat i forgot to tell you last time that i am stretcher bearing now so i see a good deal of wounded and one thing and another it is prety solid work when we are in the trenches but when we are out we do nothing only sometimes we learn to do bandaging. That is a good Photo of Noaks pub i see old Bob their i expect he had his little drop of snaps before he left i wish i was their to have my little drop of soda water i dont think. Well Beat i have just had my photo taken with all of the stretcher bearers so i am getting only half dozen for the children i will get taken [one of] myself when we come out next time if they [pay us] as i am dead broke done the last 5 Francs [on a] bottle of Champagne. You can tell Alma. Freda [and Chris] that i like their letters in with yours [Beat] especially as i can understand every word [he] writes. Beat i will have
[The rest of letter is missing. The words in brackets above are a guess by the transcriber as the page had some pieces torn off]
[Page 30]
France
Sep 12.9.1916
From the trenches
xx Beat xxxx
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am in good health i had a letter from Tom Dixon to day and he said Kate rote to him and told him i was alright and gave him my address till he heard from Kate he and a lot of the Greta fellows in England heard that i had fallen. So i am just scribbling these few lines with fear some of them may have writen home and you got to hear about it i might tell you Beat i am very much alive and if they only knew the good times we are going to have Beat when i come home they would think so. You can tell the children i have been all through Belgium and i am in the trenches their now. No news Beat so i must close hoping this note finds you all in as good a health as i am From your ever loving husband Tom.
Silver Richardson and Billy Twist sent their love to me in Toms letter
They are in England
Beat xxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxx
Lorna xxxxxxx
Billy Baby xxxxxxx
[Page 31]
[Written on YMCA paper which has the printed heading
On Active Service
WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE]
September 27/9/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am not to good i have to go under an operation with my knee we were in the trenches and i sliped and the knee went clean out. I have been doing nothing but ride about in motor ambulances and trains since sunday night the first place was the fifth field dressing station and from their to the divisional hospital and then on to reception room Canadian clearing station and then on to Boulogne it took between 8 or 9 hours in the train from Canadian station to Boulogne
[Page 32]
and i expect i will be shifted again tomorrow i wish i was over the operation i am begining to get terible down hearted to think i will not be with you for christmas but never mind i will be their for the next one . So what ever you do have a good time yourself and what ever you do you give the children anything they want. I received the parcel that my mother sent their was mits. 3 cakes of Tobacco. Chewing gum. soap. nice pipe. and something else but i forget now i am worying to much i receive your letters a regular as clock
[Page 33]
work now. I think little Berties photo is lovely i also had a letter from some Mrs Hakkins i cannot think who she is but i answered it. this place i am in is a fine place but i cannot get out to have a look around i have just been siting at the door watching a real good game of football between two English teams the game ended two to one. So i must close i will rite in a day or two and you just put my same adress and they will forward them on. Kiss the children for me i am dying to see darling lorna and all of you from your ever loving husband Tom
Kisses for all of you. Give my love to all.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 34]
The operation i have to go under is to have the Cartilage taken out of my knee.
xxxxxxxxxx
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[Page 35]
[Written on Salvation Army paper from the Recreation and Reading Room for His majesty’s Troops]
October 16 1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am getting on alright my leg is alright again but i have had some teeth drawn and i will have to stay in this camp for a few weeks longer till i get some false ones in i got all of my back ones out as they gave me a terrible lot of trouble in the trenches. All of the Greta boys left the other night for the trenches so i was glad i seen them to wish them good luck. and for them to see i was still alive they all went but my old pal G. Matich so we are still together. Beat their is no news i can tell you as i am never out of camp so you just keep giging along till i come home and always keep yourself and children in plenty of good clothes and substantial food and give them anything they want for Christmas. From your ever loving
Husband Tom
Give my best love to Billys family
Beat xxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxx
Lorna xxxxxxx
Bertie xxxxxxx
[Page 36]
[Judging by the folds of the letter on the previous page, this is written on the reverse]
They do not open your letters i have just got one of your letters to day that you sent on April 17th with chewing gum in it
Love to all
[Page 37]
[Written on paper from the Soldiers’ Christian Association Camp Home]
Pvt T. Bell
France
October 22/10/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am tip top hoping this note finds you all the same. I have just landed back from church we had the Archbishop of Western Australia preaching to us to day and i was glad when it was over because it was bitter cold he is a very old gentleman but a very plain speaker. Beat you remember me telling you i had my photo taken with the stretcher bearers well we paid him when we left the town and told him to forward them on to us but that was the end of them so i will have to get taken again and send Bertie one. Well Beat it is nearing Christmas and i am sure it is going to be a very miserable one for me but if you and the children just rite and let me know that you have had a jolly high time then that will put new life into me and i am sure there is nothing to stop yourself and the children because it will be warm
[Page 38]
and you need not to be frightened of darling Lorna catching cold i only wish this war had finished in time for me to have got home i bet i would have give you all a lively time but never mind i done my bit to get it finished and by the time you get this note i will be in at them again and we will have it finished and home for Easter i hope. There is only one thing i want you to do for me and that is to give the children and yourself a good time but them anything they want for my sake.
From your ever loving
Husband Tom
Beat xxxxx
Freda xxxxx
Chris xxxxx
Alma xxxxx
Lorna xxxxx
Bertie xxxxx
Billy & Jess xxxxx
Love to all
[Page 39]
[Written on paper from the Soldiers’ Christian Association Camp Home in the form of an air letter card]
Pvt. T. Bell
October 24/10/1916
Dear Chris
Just a line hoping this finds you tip top as it leaves me at present. Well Chris it is raining over here so i am just sending you this note while i am sitting in the young mens Christian Assoc. to tell you to be a good boy for mum and i will not forget to bring you a bosker little donkey back with me and for you to keep
puting it onto mum for plenty of pennies tell her i said you have to get plenty and dont forget to look after darling Lorna and Alma and tell Freda she is big enough to do all the house work and you go all the mesages. Tell mum Jont Henderson. Handy Shaw. Jim Henderson and my old pal G. Matich is still in this camp.
With love from Dad
Give them all a big kiss from me Chris
Chris xxxxxx
Beat xxxxxx
Freda xxxxxx
Alma xxxxxx
Lorna xxxxxx
Bertie xxxxxx
Give my best love to all
[Page 40]
[Reverse of the “air letter card" on page 30
On Active Service
Master Chris Bell
c/o Mrs. T. Bell
North St
Greta
Near West Maitland
Edward St
Glebe
W Newcastle
N.S.W.
Australia
[Page 41]
November 3/11/1916
France
Dear Beat
Just a line to say i am getting on first class as far as health goes hoping to god you are all the same. I have just received a letter from you and one from Billy Reynolds and one from England and a parcel from Kate i get my letters as regular as clock work now and i am as pleased as punch when i get one from you to say you are all well. I am still in the resting camp waiting for my back teeth but i suppose when you get this note i will be in the game again only time i like the trenches is when we are going to charge a man can get even with some of the brutes then i have been in three charges now Beat and i tell you the ones that my Bayonet gets lives no more. Tell Billy Nevens to tell Domina Riley i never seen a Turk for him but i got him a hun or two instead no news Beat
From your loving Husband
Tom
Love to all
Jess Billy and about a hundred others
very cold here
Beat xxxxxxxxxx
Freda xxxxxxxxxx
Chris xxxxxxxxxxx
Alma xxxxxxxxxxx
Lorna xxxxxxxxxx
Bertie xxxxxxxxxx
[Page 42]
France Nov 14/11/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a line to let you know i am alright hoping this note finds you all the same. Well Beat i am still in the same camp and likely to be for a few more weeks yet as my knee has gone again and they have put me on Tempory Base just knocking about cleaning up about the place there are no shells and bombs here to be ducking away from. I met Jin Walker from Greta the other night the wound that he had was a bit of shrapnel hit him on the shoulder nothing to speak about he said he hardly felt it. Well Beat i am just going down to the post office now i am expecting a parcel from England today and if you dont mind you can send me over two plugs of my favourite tobacco Conqueror. From your loving Husband Tom
Beat xxxxxx Freda xxxxx Chris xxxxxx Alma xxxxx Lorna xxxxx Bertie xxxxx
Love to All
[On the side flap of the letter card]
Love to All
hoping you enjoyed your Christmas
[Page 43]
[Address of the letter card on page 42]
On Active Service
Mrs. T. Bell
North St
Greta
Near West Maitland
Edward St
Glebe
W Newcastle
N.S.W.
Australia
From your loving Husband
[Page 44]
France November 26/11/1916
Dear Beat & Family
Just a short line hoping you are getting on tip top as it leaves me at present. Well Beat we are still going strong but i tell you they are going to take a lot of beating yet they are like rabits the more you knock the more there seems to be the women in Germany must be terrible breeders. I myself is quiet satisfied that i will get out of it alright after coming through the somme twice it is the quearest feeling in the world to be in a charge you get a nobler of rum then you get marched up to the front line a few minuits before the bombardment starts and all of a suden the Artilery will open up hundreds of our bigest guns and hundreds of the Germans and we are in the middle of it all you cannot hear anything you are just standing there with your teeth grinding waiting for the word to leap over and when you leap over you go for your life over to the Germans falling over dead and wounded all the time the scrapnel is just like hailstones when morning breaks you will see nothing but dead and wounded in hundreds the division i am in lost nine thousand odd in the somme the
[The rest of the letter is missing]
[Page 45]
[reverse of a letter]
For darling Lorna
From Dad
[Page 46]
[Written on Soldiers’ Christian Association Camp Home writing paper]
Pvt T Bell
France
November 27/1916
Dear Alma
Just a line hoping you are all well as it leaves me at present. Well Alma mum tells me you are boss of the roost but i think you will have your work cut out to be boss over Chris i think he will be having a bit of his own way especialy now that you have shifted to the Glebe but you tell mum to be sure and keep you all away from the trams i wish you had not shifted down till i had come home because i keep thinking that some of you might get hurt with trams.
Give Best love to All from your ever loving Dad
Kisses for All xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Page 47]
[On the reverse of the above letter is written, probably by Beatrice]
Alma’s letters
[Transcriber’s notes
AIEF - Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force
Greta is a small town about 50kms NW of Newcastle in NSW.
O.A.S. – On Active Service.
Puddies – these are putties which in WW1 were long (up to 8ft) strips of woollen fabric wrapped around the leg from the top of the boot up to an inch or two below the knee.
Tom Bell was killed in France 8/4/18 in the battle for Villers-Brettonneux part of which involved fighting around the small village of Hangard. He is buried about 800 metres N of Hangard and about 4kms S of Villers-Brettonneux. There is a small military graveyard (about 150 graves) on the SE edge of Bois de Hangard and it is probably here that Bell is buried.
[Transcribed by Miles Harvey for the State Library of New South Wales]