Beaurepaire. France 8/12/1918

Dear Gig,

Many thanks for your several interesting letters which I have received lately from you. This war is just about finished at last and we have come out on top, thank goodness and we still remain Cock of the Walk which fact is not due to the wasters who were too frightened of their skins to help. I have received both of the parcels which you dear creatures were so kind as to send along and which as you may have noted from reading my letter to Ma were very acceptable at the time of receiving them. Please thank Mrs. Little for her contribution of sweets, it was very good of her to think of me like that, and I am grateful.

About a week ago we had a divisional parade and marched about 12kls to a place called Marioles (?) and were there inspected by George Rex and his 2 kids, Albert and Edward. I was so close to them that I could have touched them. King George to me looked very fed up and cold as the day was icy and drizzled and he could not have felt like inspecting a host of rough Australians who were also fed up. Albert is a nice rosy faced lad and a bit of a seed. Edward was like the big brother and was more dignified though he also was cold and fed up. They had just inspected 2 other brigades so by the time they came to us they must have wished us to blazes. They all wore overcoats the same as ordinary Captains do and the 2 princes wore the rank of Captains. They arrived in 3 motor cars, the one with the King carried the Royal Coat of Arms on a flag on the tonneau and all were covered in cars with glass windows.

When he had inspected all our heroes including VC Brown of our Battalion and had shaken hands with all our C.O.s they departed amidst much half hearted cheering and we trundled 12 klms home to our one horse village. The men were really humorous on such occasions. Whilst they were waiting about in the cold that is on parade, they repeatedly cheered any old Staff Officer who went by on horse or in a car. Then when the King arrived and had made his inspection and was on the point of leaving, of course 3 cheers were called for and some ass got in first with a bleat like a sheep and spoiled it all, and everyone laughed instead. Not what it should be, is it?

Well Gig, I think I may say that I have a good chance of seeing you all again soon, that is if the ship does not go down and if I don’t get run-over by a traction engine, or die of home sickness. So cheer up. Will close now, with fondest love!!

From your affectionate Brother,

Walter