France 6/2/1918

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parades are off today owing to a big trench digging fatigue for training purposes. The Btn has had an area allotted to it for training purposes so it began things by digging out a 400 yards long transverse trench by means of which we are going to carry out such schemes as trench clearing fire control trench to trench attack etc so that we can expect some interesting work soon.

We have just come out on the trenches in the vicinity of this place named on the broach beginning with the letter A. I think you know most of my experiences during that time in the letters which I have sent home so that I will not mention them here. Since last account we have not had a very severe time of it at all. Chiefly holding the line with the raids or attacks of any kind but no one dare probe the future. This winter has not been severe at all and can not be compared with last winter. We have had some heavy falls of snow but very little rain and the ground was only frozen with short periods of about a week at a time. Much different to the last winter when it used to freeze for five weeks at a time. Moreover this winter we have been much better off for blankets billets food change of socks rum and many other things. During one period last year we did not see a civilian for about six months whilst this winter we practically lived among them having held a much quieter and better built part of the line with good trenches and roads and very better artillery fire. Billet life is very comfortable especially for officers. The men generally sleep in barns the floors which are covered about 1 foot deep with straw and hold anything between 20 to 50 men each. The men lie in rows along the wall and at night they spread the waterproof and have 2 blankets to cover them. They mostly sleep in their pants and shirts and sometimes put forward in hours lousing themselves which is the great drawback of soldiering.

In the daytime the mens gear is neatly stacked and billets cleaned up for inspection by the Btn Orderly Officer. The men are fed fairly well still and there is still a no difference in the rationed now from what it was has been. The bread contains more of the wheat than before but the weight is still the same. For breakfast they get a bacon rasher and frequently get porridge. Dinner is made of a regulation army stew comprised of fresh meat 4% bully beef 60% and beans tinned peas and potatoes and rice and very good and they can have as much as they can also tea every meal. For tea about 4:30 PM troops get tea and occasionally boil rice permeated with raisins or currents or dried figs. The dried fruits is supposed to supply grape sugar. However although the men get plenty to eat the food is always the same and I always think the sameness of blood cause of poverty of blood as scabies and boils are fairly frequent amongst the troops. If the issue of certain articles of food are short, potatoes oatmeal and many other things are purchased locally from the Btn funds which are raised locally by their projects in the dry canteen etc. As soon as we come out of the line there is a thorough inspection of clothing boots etc. The men are given a hot bath and a change of underclothing blankets are fumigated. Having cleaned the men up strict discipline is enforced. Such things as ceremonial drill saluting punctuality etc are strictly enforced since the men fall off in the matter of discipline whilst in the line.

The next thing is to inaugurate a Sports Committee to look after the games and amusements of the men and that is where I shine. My Coy has not been beaten at football this season. We are running at Brigade competition and a sports meeting is being held very shortly. On Sunday we go to church like the village blacksmith use to do. We all get cleaned up with shiny boots clean faces and clothing and headed by the band we march onto some vacant allotment and the Btn Padre holds forth for an hour or so to his erring sinners. In fact to push its short term out of the line occupied in preparation for the next term in the line in the process incidentally then improving the men’s self-respect and espirit de corps. France today is a great deal different to France as it was when we first arrived here. Things are much dearer and harder to get but I do not think there is any real shortage in France as almost self-supporting even in the hard times and be womenfolk work as hard as the men and keeps things straight some ? . In towns occupied by the British troops the people are very prosperous and sell any price they like to ask for goods and needles to say now? is any great deal of extortion. I personally don’t like the peasants for that reason.

About a fortnight ago I sent you a copy of the front page of my paybook on which I gave you the details of my promotion to save you as much trouble as possible if the worst happens. I want you to add the following entries to the bottom of the list. My promotion to 2 Lt on 29/9/17 reads AIF List No 241 of 2/10/17 under that as my changes in allotment 21/-, 3/-, 6/-, 12, 18/2/18 increased allotment.

So that from 8/2/18 I draw 12/- a day and allot 6/- a day 3/- deferred. My promotion to 1st Lt dates from Jan 17/1918. I am studying fairly consistently at present as you said in one of your letters it is in necessary for one to keep pace with the times and since I have to train a platoon I therefore have to keep myself instructed sufficiently to do so. I have a syllabus of training which I read the day before and then look up my notes of books for the information to impart to the return next day. Instructing never has been my long suit as I am inclined to be self-conscious but am getting out of the habit by degrees. I did not have the advantages of the officers training College at Oxford like most young officers get because I got my commission on the field and had to carry on as well is I could. However they evidently do not class me as a “dudd”. I have surprised about 8 1 Star chaps who came over from Australia with commissions.

I suppose you often wonder why the troops over here voted against conscription. I have never been able to get at the bottom of it my/any …

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