France, 17/6/1918

Dear Father,

I am writing to you at a late hour for various reasons. The first reason is that I am feeling rather bored and feel like appeasing my mind’s desire for something like home and the other is that today I received your nice long chatty letter of 21st April, and feel that owing to the great uncertainty of things it is advisable to answer it at once.

I really forget where I left off writing my war diary to you but rather imagine it was written up to the time when I was near Armentiers in February. From that time I intend to carry on and narrate some of my doings up to the present time and so far as is compatible with the requirements of the censor, which, by the way is myself in the first instance.

When the Huns began their grand offensive in the Cambrai-St. Quentin sector, we were up north holding a two divisional front with one division- My particular part was holding the “Corps” line on the reverse slope of Messines Ridge amongst the ruins of Messines township. This position gave a very fine commanding view of the surrounding country. On the German side we could see through our glasses, the town of Armentiers and Lille in the distance with Warneton in the foreground. A rear view gave us a good view of Kemmel Hill and Niew Eglise.

I had 6 days on the ridge as I said, holding the Corps line which is our main battle position in the event of an attack. We lived in the old German pillboxes which are tremendously strong block houses built of reinforced concrete built on a framework of 3/8″ iron bars to give the concrete a sort of resisting power. They generally had walls about 6 ft. thick and a roof of about 7 or 8 ft. in depth. Inside they measured about 10ft. x 6 ft. and would accommodate a machine gun team and were built so as to cover one another with machine gun fire. To give you an idea of how strong they are, on one occasion one of our 15″ shells hit one and the shell happened to be a “dud”, and all that happened was that the head of the shell broke off and only slightly turned the pill box to an angle, knocking off a big lump of concrete. If the shell had burst, it would not have made much of any impression on the pillbox itself, but the concussion would have most probably killed the garrison. So that even though Fritz used to shell us with our own captured high velocity guns, yet we had complete confidence in the strength of the little Gibraltars we were in.

It soon came to our turn to move south to the scene of the big push and we finally arrived, after about a week spent in marching, embusssing, debussing, entraining and detraining, in the Sornme area. On arrival we embussed again and went down to near Villers Bretoneaux after about a week of about the greatest fatigue and hardship that we had experienced to date, and did a small “stunt” in which I did not participate as it was not done by my company This was at Hangard and it was my platoon which actually junctioned with the French and all my powers of talking French came into play to fulfil my duties in the matter of liaison between flanks. On the fourth day the Huns attacked the point of juncture and we came in for a good deal of the “backwash” of the barrage, but we did not get many shots at the Huns. lt was here that I got my first mention in Battalion orders which I have sent along to you as a souvenir. After four days we went into reserve at Boves where we managed to get a well earned and much needed bath and change and rest for four days,

During that four days we were constantly in a state of standing-to, ready to counter attack at shortest notice. We were shelled with heavy stuff all the while within a couple of hundred yards of us and had several casualties. One house was blown down on six of C Coy. batmen who were all killed or wounded.

We then moved back to our old position at Hangard, but this time my platoon was mixed up with the French with alternate posts of French and Australians. We had a good opportunity of studying the French method of fighting and gained a very favourable impression as they also did of ours. One night I was rather amused because one of their company put the question to me, as to whether in the event of any attack, I intended to withdraw or stay and fight. I told him we were Australians who did not do that sort of thing. He seemed quite pleased and said bon! At any rate after being with them for a fortnight, the French sent along a letter of congratulation to our Brigade, saying how pleased they were to have the opportunity of fighting by the side of such “cheerful”, confident and brave troops, etc. etc. The only thing I did not like about the French (who were through the Verdun fighting) was their beating about the bush methods of doing things in the Line, and also their apparent haste in using the s.o.s. signal when the Huns began a rather heavy shelling. We never use the s.o.s. until we can see Huns.

We then moved back to Ravencourt and were inspected by Gen. Birdwood who said a lot of nice things and went his way rejoicing as usual. After about six days cleaning up at Bavlincourt, we went to Warloy and were in reserve for three days prior to moving onto the line at Albert. Here we just held the line for five days and had about the quietest time I ever remember. We could see the town of Albert and I had many pleasant memories recalled to mind. It was here also that I obtained my officers kit and went to those two corps schools.

The ground was all so perfectly familiar too as we had all been living in that region for twelve months before going north to the Battle of Ypres in September. The statue of the Madonna and Child had been knocked down and the town reduced to ruins. On leaving this sector we went back to Frechincourt where we stayed for about four days, cleaning up etc, and then went to Cardonette.

I had a further days training and refitting. We then moved up to Morlancourt and held a line which we had to dig for eight days and had a comparatively quiet time for the most part. It got lively enough for short periods as we were always raiding one another and the trenches were rather close. The crops were high also which made it rather ticklish work patrolling No Mans Land at night and is it does not get quite dark at this time of the year, it was even more nervy on that account.

This term in the line was followed by another six days in close reserve, which in turn was followed by another 8 in the front line and seven days in reserve of which I have written and told Mother about in the letter which you should get as soon as you get this one.

At present we are having a short period of rest and training on the outskirts of Amiens on the banks of the River. We are salvaging any amount of carrots, onions, cabbage, peas, fish and strawberries and are having any amount of swimming and cricket. So you can see that when we get the chance we do look after our stomachs and sports etc.

I have been back as far as Abbeyville in a motor lorry and had a day out. I went to the Officers Club and had a bath (hot) and three good meals, bought some knick-knacks which I wanted, such as scissors, sox, handkerchiefs, books etc. and am now feeling quite happy and contented again. We will be soon going back to the old thing again so that my next letter will probably describing some “stunt” or other.

You now have a short account of my doings up to the present date, and if you could get the gist of my other letters to the various members of the family and piece the news all together, you ought to get a fair idea of the manner in which I have been existing for the past six months at any rate. I am now becoming fairly senior in the company and instead of being a junior sub I have to take the company on my own occasionally. In fact, I narrowly missed having the opportunity of trifling with the fate of 120 men in the front line recently. But I suppose I will have to do it soon, when I pray to the Gods that I will be presented with sufficient good judgement and initiative to do justice to the task. I am often second in command, and of the company today I was in sole charge whilst the Captain was away.

I note that you have sold “Shirley” and also your other notes on your prospects etc. I make no comment since I have no right to do so, but I know you will always keep the tailboard up somehow and I am not worrying. At any rate I wish you success whilst at the same time I am annoyed with fate at your having to battle like this at your time of life and only wish I could be of more assistance to you.

Well, good bye and good night from your affectionate son,

Walter.

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