France 11/01/18

Dear Mother.

The ‘guerre’ is still going strong and so am I. I am writing this from Baileuil whither I have managed to creep to spend a quiet day to have a clean up in a quiet sit down and a good feed after 24 days in the trenches.

We were in the front line for 8 days and then the support trenches for another 8 days and the 16 days in reserve altogether. Unit one reserve was closer than the reserve we are in a present.

We are in the trenches in the vicinity of the town, which began with the letter A and which was on the letter broach? some time ago I sent along some time ago.

The weather as not being so cold as it was this time last year but the ground has been frozen and covered with snow for about three weeks, which makes walking very difficult and slippery. The shell holes and ponds are covered with ice to a depth of a foot or more. All vegetation trees etc are absolutely bare of leaves and birds except for robins, starlings, sparrows and rooks are to be seen and they all seem fed up with the cold and so are generally too cold to get out of one’s way poor devils. In the trenches, I have managed to get three hot meals a day somehow, and have introduced a system whereby the men get a dry pair of socks every day. When we came out the trenches they are made to wash the feet of daily and dry with talcum powder which has the effect of keeping down trench foot besides preventing soreness. Altogether the men are 50 times better off this year than they were last year.

We are in quiet part of the line in three hot meals, dry sox, have 2 blankets and are able to get things from the canteens. Last year we used to wade about in mud and did not get any of the above luxuries. Yesterday I was busily engaged in cutting the platoons hair. The poor beggars find it hard to keep clean and it is part of my job to try and help them. They have not had a official bath for over two months, not a change of clothing for one month. However I managed to scrounge 2 old wash tubs and got a fatigue party on heating water and thus was able to bath the majority of the platoon. At present, nearly everyone has suffering from diarrhoea (?) caused by drinking water like Epsom Salts and it is very disagreeable.

We have not yet received our Xmas mail but there are wild rumours of its early arrival. I have had not a letter from home for about a month either which is unusual as I generally get letters at least once a fortnight. The Aunts in Ireland are writing regularly now and seems rather anxious to see me. They sent me a photo of place in Spring Hill and it certainly looks quiet out of the place.

Here we get all sorts of rumours all re what the Australian army is going to do now that conscription is passed out for good. Some say Egypt and Mesopotamia. Some say a rest about a month duration and then a stunt like the Ypres one. I am rather inclined to think that will be the latter.

Mrs Hookham has just written to me and says she had a nice letter from you about me and had answered it and said a lot about France.

Don’t take too much notice of what she says in the letter as she is rather shook on me for something known? and thinking I am a little tin God. Personally, I think she is the best and kindest woman I have ever known. She wept freely when I left this place for France after my last leave to her and you know women don’t weep for those they don’t like do they.

With love from your affec son

Walter