France, 17/11/1918
Dear Father,
Today I received your letter written from Delungra in which you seemed to be rather despondent concerning my wound etc. But ere this you should be fully acquainted with the facts and have no more cause for worry. I also sent a cable a few days ago, did you get it?
We have been in the village of Vignecourt near Amiens for a term of about five weeks now and have had a fairly easy time of it. We have all been intensely interested in the war news too and have, during the period, seen the collapse of Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria and Germany so that we feel like the conquering heros one hears so much about. The collapse of the Triple Alliance is really remarkable and I do not think I should have been game to predict such a state of affairs as now exist, 6 months ago, when we were up against such tremendous odds with our thin khaki line before Amiens. At Hangard we held the Huns back by pure bluff and if they had been game to do it they could have pushed us aside and taken Amiens. But the Australians were known by the Huns to be rather touch nuts to crack and they did not try it more than once. Then they came off second best at Villers Bretoneaux and never tried again.
The Australians absolutely get all the credit over here for having saved Amiens and are looked on as “saviours” by the local inhabitants who are always throwing compliments at us on that score. Today we had a very pretty ceremony. In the Military Cemetery on the outskirts of the town are a good many graves of our lads who were killed or died of wounds during the recent fighting. The French people arranged a ceremony which included most of the civilian inhabitants and our Brigade, whereby the graves of the soldiers were handed over to the care of the children of the village. One French General was very eloquent and moved the Frenchies to tears when he referred to our lads who had died for them etc. We had a firing party and blew Last Post and then the French children placed wreaths and flowers on the graves and we then all marched home.
When the Armistice was signed with Germany, the village went mad. Champagne literally flowed. The old French people ran out and clapped us on the back and all wanted to kiss us at once etc. much to my disquiet as they are too hairy and smell of turnips. Nevertheless we drank their champagne and shouted Vive L’Australie! Vive la France! etc. until we were either too tight or too hoarse. Then the French people gathered around our bands as they played all the patriotic stuff on record.
The French kids produced their fireworks and flags and danced for joy and altogether things were very cheerful and I will remember the occasion for some time. Next day things went on as usual and no one would know that there was a war on. Life still carry on with our parades and sports to keep us fit and we expect to move forward as part of the Army of Occupation. We think we will be in for about four months garrison duty on the Rhine. What a great ending to four years of trials and misery! We, including the army here, can scarcely realize what the French have suffered. One of our Padres went to Lille in a car the day before yesterday. On returning he said that among other things that the Germans did, was that they gathered all the young women and medically examined them and then sent them away and the mothers and fathers have not heard from them since. Some mothers went mad with the suspense. Just fancy that happening to our sisters. It makes my blood boil and I am pretty tough after what I have seen over here and God help the Huns when we get to Germany if they give us any excuse to ill treat them.
Last Sunday we held a united church service in the local church. The French mingled with us and the Te Deum was sung and a short address was delivered and then we departed much impressed. The Padre touched on the subject of home and mothers etc. and that is what made me send the cable home to let you know that I am one of the lucky ones so far, and to relieve your minds lest you may have thought me dead.
I am sending my letters to Homebush lately for fear that you have migrated from Fairfield so I hope you receive them all. The weather is now very cold and it has been frozen hard during the past two days and I think this winter will be a very severe one and I am truly thankful that there will be no more trenches to hold.
With affectionate wishes to all, I remain yours,
Walter.