SEVENTEEN

IT BREAKS MY HEART BEYOND
WORDS TO THINK THAT I SHALL
NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN

FRANCE, OCTOBER

In the aftermath of the Third Battle of Ypres, the depleted 38th Battalion was loaded onto buses and transported back to the small village of Senlecques from which it had earlier departed. It was 15 October. The villagers welcomed their Australian friends and joined them in their grief for those they had lost.

Days after, when the traumatised men had been rested, Percy and Allan wrote home to reassure their family of their safety and also that of George, as the news of his death had yet to reach them. Allan seemed aware only of localised successes, celebrating what was achieved at Broodseinde and his own good luck, perhaps choosing not to acknowledge the enormous losses of Passchendaele, possibly unaware of the roll call that told the real story.

In the field

20-Oct 1917

My dear Mum Dad & Jim

Well my dear mum we are back out of the line once again and I am very thankful too. We are back miles and miles away from the line too they tell us we are back for 3 months we are due for a spell now. We have had a terrible rough time lately something awful if I was to tell I know you would not believe me. We are back in the same place as we were before we moved up to the line. We went over the top twice in a fortnight. Charlie had the good luck to get away to a rest camp for a fortnight & he missed both stunts how Percy and I both came out without getting a knock I don’t know simply marvellous. It rained and it hailed while we were taking our objectives and talk about mud it was up to our hips in places. We lived in shell holes half filled with water absolutely the only things we had to live in. I can tell [you] we killed thousands of Fritz’s and [took a] jolly sight [more] prisoners. It was in this battle that [we] made such a success. I shot more in this stunt than I have ever done so before. I give the b- no mercy all our boys are the same. Les Townsend was very lucky he got slightly wounded I had a letter from him and he says he is having a tip top time. A man that’s got wounded is very lucky. Percy and I was not lucky enough to get a nice little wound. The wounded have a bonnie time and 9 times out of 10 they are slight wounds. Spuddy Kerr has been wounded also Bill Street. Percy & I are the only ones left out of the local boys from Pyramid & Mologa & Calival all the rest have been killed or wounded. I cant mention anything about the stunts but I will never forget it so you will hear it one of these fine days. Oh dear mum it is lively back here and a bonnie time we are having a rattling time. We are in for a good time here I can tell you. I was offered further promotion the other day but I refused it. I have something better in view. I am not going to tell you what it is but if I have the good luck to get it, it will mean 6 months in England for me. Well dear mum you seem to be terrible worried don’t worry mum as these things are to happen. Poor old Albert was to go so don’t worry yourself to death. We expect a letter from George any day now. He will be in England now. I told you in a previous letter that the war was going to end today but I am afraid not. But all the same Fritz is done. Well dear mum I am going to a nice little town to morrow & hope to get a few little things. Well dear mum & dad & Jim this is all the news this time so will close with best love to all. Oh mum I forgot to tell that we got a bonnie Ausy mail about a week ago also the beautiful parcel for which we thank you for. It was a beautiful one. It was in tip top order when it arrived but Percy & I soon disordered it. Charlie had gone to a rest camp and we just got it in time as we were going to advance next morning so we had some of it with us. Well dear mum dad & Jim I will say goodbye this time.

I remain

Your Loving Son

Allan S Sgt

I think Percy will be going to Blighty soon. I am going to try for todays Paris leave.

Percy’s letter was more subdued:

In the field

October 22

My Dear Mother & Father & Jim

Just a few lines to let you know we are all well as it leaves us at present. I suppose you will have been expecting to hear from me before, we have been very busy, had a couple of stunts pushed Fritz back a bit. Charlie got 14 days leave to a rest camp on the coast, and he missed both stunts, he was lucky. I went over in both, got through all right, it was very wet for the last stunt, he tried [to] gas us, when we were going up, to go over, but it was too wet as luck happened that mustard gas [is] terrible stuff if you get it. When we got to the jumping off trench he shelled us while waiting to go over; he had plenty of machine guns we were all over mud when we came out. I was lucky to come out, it was pretty hot I tell you. We are back in the same place, as we were before the stunt, not very often you come back to the same billets. It rained today, so we had no parade, do me. I am never anxious to go on parade. Got Charlie’s parcel it came when he was away, just before the last stunt, I carried the tin of crabs over with me, went allright. I must thank you very much for it. Well Mum I will close now hoping all are well I remain

Your Loving Son

Percy

While Allan writes of the virtues of being wounded and a trip to Blighty, perhaps his words are also an effort to reassure his parents that George was safe. While a wound might bring a welcome trip to England and a chance to live in safety, even briefly, many wounds brought incapacity, long-term illness, permanent disfigurement and death. A welcome wound appears contrary to all reason — although reason does not abound in war.

Of those neighbours and new friends the brothers mention in their letters home, there were few who had survived Passchendaele unscathed. Allan and Percy were yet to fully realise the true cost of the battle.

Will (Bill) Street was a farmer who lived near Mologa. He enlisted in February 1916 with Allan and Percy at the age of 23. Allan had earlier written home expressing his concern that Will now regretted his decision to enlist. Clearly Will had overcome his fears as he had been promoted corporal. Will was severely wounded on 12 October 1917 during the battle to take Passchendaele. He died two weeks later and is buried near Poperinghe.¹ His brother, Harry Street, was a 36-year-old single farmer who had sailed on the Port Lincoln with Albert. Harry also expressed some regret that he had enlisted. Albert wrote from Larkhill that Harry had cried when leaving for France. He had been wounded earlier in July 1917, but returned to the front and survived to reach Australia in March 1919. ²

Hughie Martin returned to Australia in April 1918. He had enlisted in March 1916 with so many of the Mologa men. He was wounded on 4 October at Passchendaele as the 38th Battalion rushed the Broodseinde Ridge towards where the Tyne Cot Cemetery now sits. As the wound to his femur healed, his leg was permanently shortened and he was later invalided to Australia. ³

Les Townsend was a labourer from Mologa. He was 21 years old when he enlisted with Allan and Percy and, like them, became a member of the 38th Battalion’s Machine-Gun Section. He sailed on the Runic with the twins and was wounded at Broodseinde on 4 October 1917. He rejoined his unit on 12 January 1918.⁴ Another ten long months of war remained.

Spuddy (Edward) Kerr was a labourer from Janiember East who had also sailed on the Runic with the men from Mologa and was a Lewis gunner. He survived a shell blast during the Warneton raid in February 1917 and was shot in the leg at Passchendaele on 13 October 1917, lying in the morass of the battlefield for two days before being rescued. Infection took hold and Spuddy’s leg was amputated. He was repatriated in January 1918.⁵ At his welcome home gathering, Sarah Marlow’s brother, George Mahoney, presented a purse of 100 pounds to Spuddy. The locals had raised the money for Spuddy to purchase a prosthetic leg. As he made the presentation George explained that his nephew had sent a letter describing how Spuddy had dug him out under fire when his nephew had been buried alive. Which nephew sent the letter is unknown, the action likely to have been at Messines after which Albert remarks that they were all buried a number of times. Spuddy later worked as a valuer with the Loddon Shire Council. After his marriage in 1921 he moved to Frankston, had two children and was active in the local football club and RSL. He passed away in 1970.

A number of men who were casualties were not mentioned in the brothers’ initial letters home after Passchendaele. Their names would gradually appear over the subsequent weeks.

David Mullen was a 20-year-old farmer from Mitiamo who served with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. He was killed on 13 October 1917.⁶ His brother Hugh landed with the first wave at Gallipoli, was shot three days later and sent to England. Hugh died of septicaemia in Birmingham, England, on 15 May 1915.⁷ The Pyramid Hill Advertiser reported on 13 August 1915 that Hugh was the first Australian soldier to be buried in England. ⁸

Tom Burt was 27 when he left the farm at Heathcote and sailed with Albert on the Port Lincoln. He appears in the photo postcard Albert sent home.⁹ He was shot at Messines but rejoined his unit in September 1917. The official telegram told his family that he had been listed as missing on 13 October 1917. After a Court of Enquiry hearing in 1918, the family was informed that he had been killed, lost in the mud of Flanders Fields.¹⁰ His name appears on the Menin Gate.

Like Tom, Gordon Swainston had sailed on the Port Lincoln and also appears in Albert’s photo postcard. ¹¹ An 18-year-old farmer from Green Hill near Kyneton, he was one of four brothers serving on the Western Front. He had been wounded on 31 May 1917, but had he returned to his unit two weeks later. At Passchendaele on 13 October 1917 he was shot in the leg and was not fit for duty until May 1918. He would be wounded twice more before he returned to Australia.

Albert Brookes was a 23-year-old farm labourer who sailed with Allan and Percy on the Runic and also became a Lewis gunner. He was hit in the shoulder by a bullet on 3 January 1917 but recovered to return to the 38th Battalion on 2 September 1917. At Passchendaele on 13 October he was again hit in the arm and thigh. He survived to rejoin his unit.¹²

Albert Sinclair was a 29-year-old married farmer from Durham Ox who had enlisted on 13 March 1916 and later sailed on the Shropshire with Charlie. On 13 October he was gassed at Passchendaele but recovered and returned a week later. He suffered a gunshot wound on 17 July 1918 and returned to Australia on 20 November 1918.¹³

With over 60% of the battalion killed or wounded, Charlie could count himself very fortunate that he had been moved to a rest camp prior to the battles of 4 and 12 October. He was reunited with his brothers soon after their return to Senlecques. The delay in communication meant that the surviving brothers were now receiving letters from home seeking information about Albert’s death.

Oct 17^th 1917

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim

… we are now at the same place as we were some time ago it is a long way back from the line and I think we will be up here for a long time I think till after Christmas, so you will have no need to worry over us. I have not heard any word of Geordie, it takes a long time to get a letter when they are wounded. I wrote to the Officer commanding his unit and to the base in London so hope to hear very soon. I wrote and told them in England. You have received the sad news about Albert. I wrote to you the day he was killed and told you how it happened. You asked if he said anything before he died. Well I said before that he did not he was killed instantly and I think by concussion, I ran to where he was as soon as they told me but when I got there he was dead. Yes, he had plenty of money and before we went into the line we always used to go every night and get something to eat. I got his breakfast for him the morning he was killed and he got up about 10 oclock and then he went on guard which was about 100 yards away from where I was, that was the last time I saw him alive, our work at that time was at night carrying war material up to the line at times it was so hot but Albert was not on any of that, or Percy. Allan was out a few nights. Albert was left behind on gas guard. He is buried in a nice cemetery. I told you before where it is. He died without fear I know he did not have any fear at all of shells or bullets, it was in the push that he was with Spud Kerr, but he was not far from me and when we got our objective. Spud Kerr Les Townsend U Martin Bill Street were wounded in the pushes the other day …

It was now close to four weeks since Charlie had received the news that George had been wounded and, without a letter from his brother, his anxiety was increasing. He wrote to his family in the hope that George had written home.

Oct 23^rd 1917

… I was sorry that when you wrote you had not got the letters telling you about Albert for I wrote the same time as Mr Gollan I am sorry to say that he was wounded the other day but I can get his address I will write to him and thank him for you, he told me at the time that he wrote and I thanked him and when I see him again or get his address I will thank him for you. I told you all about poor Albert in a lot of letters how it happened and all about it, so there is no need to tell you again, but if you did not get the letters tell me and I will tell you everything again. Percy has written to you today and we are sending this with a letter to Pearl this note will be very short but I will write again I hope to get some more mail tonight or tomorrow, tomorrow morning I am going to a N.C.O. school Allan went this morning I have to get my kit ready tonight, I will be there for 3 weeks or a month it is about 4 miles away from here. I will get my mail just the same, I am not too keen on going, we are out of the line till after Xmas so that is not too bad. I have not heard about Geordie, but expect word next week I will let you know as soon as I can perhaps he has written to you. I am glad you got the cable I sent. Percy has told you about the local boys being hit I have not been in the line since Albert was killed. I am glad to hear that Pearl and our Baby are getting on well again. I sent you my photo which I hope you got alright …

Charlie had arrived at the school for non-commissioned officers where he was reunited with Allan.

Oct 27^th 1917

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

… I am now at a Brigade N.C.O. School it is 3 miles from here I come back here every Wed. Sat. Sun half days off. Allan is there instructing he is now a sergeant. I think the school last 3 week or a month when I left to go I had to put on one stripe. I was made an acting Lance Corporal how long I will last at that I do not know but I will draw a Corporal’s pay that is about the best part of it a corporal get 10/-. I have not heard word from Geordie but hope to do so this week from Base Headquarters and from the officer. I feel confident that he will be all right. I will write as soon as I hear from him, we will be out of the line for a long time so there is no need to worry. We are starting on the winter now the trees are beginning to loose their leaves. The parcels you are sending will turn up alright we are getting our mail regular now it is alright to get the mail so often. Percy met Wilson Townsend he was alright I did not see him I was at the rest camp at the time, Spud Kerr wrote to Allan tonight he has had his leg taken off at the knee it is hard luck for him he will be going home now Les Townsend will soon be alright, Bill Street was also hit I do not think his wound was serious. Hughie Martin was also hit …

The following day Charlie wrote to his Aunt Florrie. He was still uncertain of the whereabouts of George and unaware that Bill Street had died two days earlier. It is in this letter that he first expresses his real concern for George. For four weeks he had written to his parents with optimism in an attempt to boost their spirit, unaware of the obituary notice that had already appeared in the Pyramid Hill Advertiser and surmising that George must be badly wounded or worse. While Charlie continues to reassure his parents, he reveals his true thoughts to Sarah’s sister:

… I am sorry to say that I have not heard anything more about Geordie I wrote to the Base in London and to the O.C. I cannot understand why I have not heard anything about him he must be badly wounded. I do not know how things will be at home. I am going to cable home when I hear. Allan got a letter from Spud Kerr last night he has had his leg taken off at the knee and is getting on alright Les Townsend has a slight wound Bill Street is also wounded also Hughie Martin but as fas as I know their wounds are light. Percy may get leave to England soon, some of the boys are getting leave now…

As Charlie expressed his concern to his aunt, Allan wrote to Jim. It was a fortnight since Passchendaele and the reality of the casualty list had dampened Allan’s initial reaction:

In the field

28-10-1917

Dear Jim

Just a few lines to let you know we are all well & hope you are the same Jim we are back in bonnie place. It is the same place as we were in before we went up to the line. There is an Australian mail in & I am anxiously awaiting for mine. I’m down at brigade instructing my junior N.C.O.’s. There is 14 of us here. Charlie is of the junior N.C.O. and he is getting on well. I expect to get something good soon I have a fair chance of going to Blighty to a school if I don’t get that I am putting in for leave for Paris. So I am thinking seriously of cabling for a £10 if I don’t you tell mum to take anything like that out of account. There seems to be nothing but dam strikes in Ausy lately. They ought to send them over here & give them a taste of what we have had lately and I’ll bet they would not strike again. I won’t forget to thank the Jones’ for their kindness to me. I have had a lot of letters to write lately. We had two buggars of stunt Jim as long as I live I will never forget them you really don’t know what it like here under bad conditions. Different lads were wounded and they wrote to me to fix things up for them. I had a letter [from] my cobber last night Spuddy Kerr. He was bad wounded & he lay out in the battlefield for 2 night & days in the cold & rain. He had his leg taken off above the knee. He is a fine fellow. If he ever comes up our way fetch him home and get him to stop a night. He can tell you all about us and poor Albert. Jim there is nothing doing up the [meaning Pyramid Hill] now. No four finish.¹⁴

On the same day he also wrote to his parents:

… We [are] still in the same old place and my word mum it is tra bon. We are likely to be here for some time… I had a letter from my best cobber last night & he is Spuddy Kerr. He has had his leg taken off above the right knee. I am terrible sorry. He is such a fine fellow. He is cert for Ausy. Mum if he come up our way at all you must get him to stop a night with you he can tell you all about us and dear old Albert. He is such fine bright lad. I know you will do this mum. There is only Percy and I left out of that Pyramid & Mologa mob, all our cobbers are killed or wounded. I think we all will be home for Easter. Well my dear mum & Dad I will say goodbye for the present trusting you are all well. Mum I have not had a days sickness since I left Australia.

Well goodbye all

I remain

Your Loving Son

Allan S

Myrtle Stone’s brother Joe briefly wrote to Jim of his wound, ‘a bit of shrap’ which had pierced his finger:

Somewhere in France

October 30^th 17

Dear Jim

… I suppose by the time you get this you will be well on with the harvest I suppose they will be long and tangled this year on account of it being a very [good] season. I have not heard from Percy lately expect a letter any time now I have saw none of the Mologa lads only T Alford since I came over I received your last letter up the line, came out all right got a small bit of shrap through one of my fingers it is about healed up now. It is getting a bit on the cool side over here now we have had no snow yet but I think they have had it in Blighty according to the Papers. Has Charlie Fyffe gone home I heard he had. I have had a bit of a touch of Rhuematics this last few days I suppose it will be hard to get men for the harvest this year. Well Jim news are scarce so I think I will ring off

I remain

Yours Sincerely

Joe [Stone]

7326

It was now close to six weeks since George had been killed. Charlie wrote:

Oct 31^st 1917

My Dear Mother Father and Jim,

… I have not had any word from Geordie but perhaps he has written to you before this, I have not heard anything about him from the base in London nor from his unit although I wrote last week, but I believe he will be alright and there is no need to worry. I am still at the school, Percy went to a Lewis Gun School this morning I believe he will be away about 12 or 14 days. The weather has not been the best here lately of course we can expect as much, but still it is not very cold. I wrote to you last Sunday also to Pearl, I only got one letter from you this mail but I think there is more to come in. We had a note from Les Townsend he is getting on alright …

As October drew to a close, American forces were now being sent in limited numbers to the stalemated war on the Western Front. By the end of the war two million American soldiers would have arrived in Europe. To the east, Italy was experiencing grave difficulty. The might of the German and Austro-Hungarian forces was rapidly eroding the Italian defences. However Allied forces celebrated some successes in the battles fought in Palestine. On 3 October in the Third Battle of Gaza, the 4th Light Horse famously charged Beersheba in what is regarded as one of the last great cavalry charges. Effectively the Australians cleared the way for the capture of Gaza on 7 November. By December Allied forces had reached Jerusalem.

BENDIGO, OCTOBER

In Bendigo, life continued as Pearl recovered from her illness and settled into life with baby Eva. She wrote to Sarah of her concern for Tom Alford, the friend and neighbour of the brothers who had written very candid letters to Jim. His records do not indicate that he had been listed as missing, although close to this time he had been withdrawn from the front due to illness.

208 Barnard St

Bendigo

27^th 1917

Dear Mother,

Just a line as I am sending a letter on from Charl also a photo he sent for you, he does not look well in it by any means. He said in my letter Tom Alford was missing I am sorry for his people it is hard on them. Charl sent a photo for Mr Walker. I went to see him the other day he think baby is a real Marlow, he kissed her and made a fuss of her she liked it. She had a bad turn Xmas night with her teeth. Mrs Grant came in and put the cloths on her she soon got alright again, she is fine again today she has another tooth through that is two at the bottom. I will close now dear Mother hoping all are well as we are with love to all and best wishes for the New Year, with love from

Pearl and baby Eva

Mother & Dad are going to Melbourne later on it is too hot now for them to enjoy it.

MOLOGA, NOVEMBER

As winter approached on the Western Front, at home in Mologa preparations were commencing to begin the harvest. The death of George was now widely known and Sarah, Charles and Jim received letters of condolence as they struggled to come to terms with the deaths of two sons. Lizzie Glass, widow of Dave who had been killed in March 1917, wrote to Sarah from Queensland:

Riverdale

Nov 2^nd 17

Dear Mrs Marlow

It is with regret that I now write to say how very sorry I am to hear of your second great loss, I’m sure you must have a terrible anxious time let us hope that the other three boys will return safely, I have received all of Dave’s little things back & it all opens afresh the wound. I hope you will excuse the shortness of this Mrs Marlow & someday when you feel inclined I would like to hear from you with sincere sympathy

From Lizzie Glass

News of George’s death also reached some members of the family in England before his brothers could be informed. The length of time it took for word to reach them almost certainly exacerbated their grief.

Drayton

Nr Uppingham

Nov 6 1917

My Dear Brother & Sister

i cannot tell you how sorry we are to hear of your great loss & pain what a blow it would be to you both i hope his dear Mother will bear it as well as she can i am so sorry for her i have not seen him but she said what a dear boy he was i should have liked to have seen him but i was to poorly when he came to Leicester i could not go i did not see Albert either i do hope i trust that the other will be spared to you this war is dreadful isn’t it i do wish it would end Ted youngest boy went up last week but they sent him back he not big enough Harry has got his discharge but i think I told you dear brother give my love to my dear sister & Jim & except the same your dear self i know you will excuse a short letter this time hoping you are all well as it leaves us all well Thank God we are having a lot of rain here & the potoes are going very bad i am sorry to say well my Dear Brother & sister i will now close with love from us all i remain your ever loving sister

C Wilson XXXXXX

In the south of England the Lee family had yet to hear of George’s death, although Annie, sister of Charles senior, appears resigned to the worst:

Water Farm

Manaton

Moretonhampstead

Nov 8 1917

My Dear Sister & Brother I feel I must write you a few lines to tell you how very pleased we were to see dear Allan he is a dear boy We all fell in love with him Since seeing him we feel very anxious about them all the enclose snapshot was taken while with us I thought you might like one and one for Jim with my love I heard from Allan on the 6th he said they were quite well we are very sorry about Poor George as they have yet no news of him you have our sincerest sympathy in your loss of loss of Poor Albert he wrote me several nice letters although we did not see him we knew he was very nice by his letters We are looking forward to seeing Percy & Charlie I do hope they will be spared to you it is a awful war their seems no ending yet and the weather is very hard for them it is nearly always raining it will be nearly Christmas by the time you get this I am writing to ask Charlie to try & get leave for Christmas if he does not get it before he says Percy may get his any time now I am afraid my letter will not be of much interest to you I hope you will excuse a short one Trusting you are all quite well with love to all from your loving sister

A Lee

Allan on leave in England — a photo his aunt sent to Sarah and Charles.

THE WESTERN FRONT, NOVEMBER

In France, Charlie, Percy and Allan remained in training. Charlie wrote:

November 3^rd 1917

My Dear Mother, Father and Jim,

… I am still at the school Allan is there Percy is at a Lewis Gun School. I was talking to the Lewis Gun officer this afternoon he says he will get a stripe out of it, it was the officer who sent him there. I told you that I was a temporary Corporal. I can now draw 4/6 a day over here as I cannot make an allowance while I am temporary rank of course Pearl’s money goes on the same she draws 4/- 1/6 deferred 4/6 goes into my pay book which makes 10/-a day. I was going to cable home to you for some money but now I will have a good bit in my book, I am promoted a Corporal via a wounded man if he returns inside 3 months I will go back to Lance Corporal, but I think I am pretty safe. Allan was a temporary Corporal right up to the time he was made a temporary sergeant, he is now a sergeant and will stand a good chance of getting a commission as a second Lieutenant there are always a certain number of sergeants get commissions and he will stand a good chance, if he does, he will very likely got to a school in England for 4 months and then 2 months at the training battalion in Lark Hill. I will not be a Lewis Gunner now but will be in charge of another section, Percy will be in charge of the Lewis Gun section, if Geordie had been in the infantry he would have had a commission by now or he would have stood a good chance. I expect a letter next week to say how he is and I will let you know at once …

Percy penned a letter to his aunt:

In the field

Nov 3^rd

My Dear Auntie Florrie & All

I am at a Lewis Gun School, and we have plenty of writing, and learning to do, it is a good way from the Battalion, they are still in the same place. We get a lot of lectures, and have to take notes, and write them up at night. Charlie & Allan were still at the school when I left, which was three days ago. We have a nice little camp, huts to sleep in, and good meals, work from nine till one, two till five two smoko ¼ hour each. I will be here twelve days. There is a fairly large town about two miles away, but I never bother to go in. Poor Spuddy Kerr, got his leg taken off above the knee, blood poisoning set in, it was a pity for him he was a good fellow, one of the best in a stunt. He will go to England later on, when fit to travel. Have not heard yet from Bill Street or Albert Brooks either Hugh Martin.

There is some heavy fighting in Italy just now. Fritz has pushed them back a bit. You will be well into harvest by now. Just about twelve months since we came to France. The weather is very miserable & I suppose it will remain so for a while now. I had a terrible slow train ride to get here, started 9 am got here at 10 pm, quite no distance, was in a carriage with a New Zealand chaplin, he was saying it would make a parson swear, the trains are always slow here. There is a chap in my Company that was relieving the station master at Mitiamo about four years ago, named O’Brien knows Uncle Jim Mahoney well …

Allan’s next letter to his parents lacked his earlier buoyancy and his bravado has clearly been shaken — he admits he has had enough of war:

In the field

6-11-1917

My Dear Mum & Dad,

… It is a fair while since we had a letter from Ausy I can [can’t] make it out but we always hope for the best. Well dear mum it is raining a treat now but thank God we are out of the line for Xmas, anyway we have done our share of fighting for a while. Twelve months solid fighting without a spell is pretty solid. This will be the first spell we have had since being in France. We situated in a nice quiet little place. Free from shells & gas. Tra bon mum. The last two stunts are enough for me especially the last. Well dear mum I am now sure we will not be home for Xmas but cheer up there is a good time coming. I don’t know whether I told you my last letter that I was an instructor at brigade NCO school. Charlie is here is getting on well. Percy has gone away to a lewis gun school. He is lucky. When this school ends I am going to hit the captain up for a school. I have had one school since I enlisted and it lasted 6 days. Well dear mum I say in every letter that I am going to cable for money but I havent done so yet. I believe I can get to Paris for 10 days anytime I like after the school breaks up. If I do I will cable but if not I won’t cable. I get plenty of letters from England. Mum you all are worrying a terrible lot over dear Albert. Do look at it at the bright side. When I sit for a while it nearly breaks me up and when I know that you all are worrying it makes it worse so cheer up. Just take note of the date of this letters & I might have good news for you one of these fine day. Keep these letters. Well I suppose you all are busy with the harvest. I think I would make a good lunch boy. In fact I could sew the bags. I was never too good at it. Well dear mum hows bobs I could do a night camp there. Well dear mum dad & Jim I will say goodnight wishing you all as brighter Xmas as circumstances will permit,

I remain

Your Loving Son

Allan S. M.

P.S. I hope you get the few little things I sent home

While choosing not to mention George to his parents, he is clearly Allan’s first concern in his letter written to Jim on the same day:

In the field

6-11-17

Dear old Jim,

… We have not any word from Geordie. It is terrible to get letters at times over here. Well Jim it has been very wet lately but thank God we are out of the line. I am still instructing at brigade. Charlie is here getting instruction as a N.C.O. He is doing well Percy is away a Lewis Gun school. He is very lucky … I’m afraid we will not be home [for] Xmas but I hope you have a good one. Have a little extra duck for me. I say in every letter I am going to cable home for a tenna but haven’t done so yet. They tell me I can go to Paris anytime I like after the school. So that is tra bon it would be lovely to see it. Well Jim I might have some good news for you very soon. Just take note of this letter the date. I tell you I wont forget to thank Mrs & Eva Jones for the parcel tra bon ah. Have you got a girl yet. Eva is a beaut is she Jim. Is Bill Jones married yet. Let me know when it is coming off. Im finished now with so & so up the road. Well Jim old man I think I have you or mum all the news so with best love to all

Your loving bro

Allan

Their hopes that George had recovered were now shattered as the truth was clearly spelt out to the surviving brothers. Officially, AIF Headquarters responded to Charlie’s inquiries on 6 November. By the time he received the standard letter he had also heard from George’s commanding officer in a brief note received from the trenches on 8 November.

The letter Charlie received confirming the death of George.

AIF ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS

WESTMINSTER LONDON

5AR/29723 Nov 6^th 1917

No. 2123 Private C.E. Marlow,

“D” Company

38^th Battalion, A.I.F,

B.E.F, France

With reference to your inquiry of the 16^th ult., respecting your brother, No. 2748 G.T. Marlow, 2^nd Brigade, Light Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Imperial Force. I sincerely regret to inform you that this soldier died on 21.9.17 at the 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, France, suffering from wounds sustained whilst serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France.

The sincere sympathy of the Commonwealth Government is extended to all those bereaved by this sad loss.

Lance E Laplin

Lieutenant for Officer i/c Records

Charlie and Allan were together when the news finally arrived. They knew that George had cheated death at the disasters of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm and in the battles that raged at Lagnicourt and Bullecourt. But, after 19 months of fighting on the Western Front, his luck had finally run out; good luck charms were no match for cold, hard steel. Seven weeks after the death of his brother, it was the eldest son who composed the words of consolation to his family, his anguish as palpable as his pride for George which he expresses in his letter.

8^th Nov 1917

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

Again you will have received the awful sad news that our dear Geordie is gone, it breaks my heart beyond words to think that I shall never see him again, I wrote and told you that when we were camped near his unit I went one afternoon on my own to try and find him. I walked miles and miles but would not give up till I found him at last I found his unit and they told me that he was wounded and that it was not serious since then I had not received any word from him so I wrote to England and to his officer and today I received the very sad news from the Captain of his unit that poor Geordie died of wounds at one of the Casualty Clearing Stations I think in France, the note I got was short as they were in the line, the Captain is writing again telling me where he is buried, if possible I will go and see his grave, he did not state when Geordie died but it must have been soon after he was wounded, generally speaking in one of those stunts if a wounded man got out to the dressing station he will get on alright but the stomach is a very bad place, his mates dressed his wound and said that he was in good spirits and was not in any pain, his wound was not deep as the equipment saved him, they carried him behind a big concrete dugout and got a stretcher bearer, who brought him out, and the unit received word that he had passed through the Casualty Clearing Station, and they thought he would be alright when I heard that I was confident that he would be alright as he was not a fellow who would go down in spirits. Geordie was reserved for the stunt he and his team but at the last minute one of the other Corporals took ill and Geordie had to go, his mates told me what a fine fellow he was, and that when he was told that he was not to go over he was quite disappointed he wanted to go, he was not a bit frightened. I could see from what he told me when I met him that he was not frightened, I can honestly tell you that I don’t believe there is another Australian living who has done as much for his country than Geordie, he has done many things worthy of a Military Medal and a Distinguished Conduct Medal. I will find out all I can, how he died where he is buried and everything about his last moments, the Captain is writing again to me as he as in the line when he wrote he is going to write and tell me where he is buried, I will write to the Chaplain and nurses of the hospital and find out all I can, I am very glad that we met over here he was just the same as always, he had that same smile on his face and looked splendid, I was out with him two days, I worked a point one day to see him, I broke my teeth and said I wanted them mended so parade for the Dentist at the same time I made arrangements to meet me in a certain town I shouted him a splendid tea, it seemed like home to be with him, I also gave him a £1 note that was poor Albert’s I divided Albert’s money up amongst us, I asked Geordie if he wanted money when I left he said no that he had a good bit in his book. I often sent him a /- note, of course it was not mine it was some of that £10 which you sent, still I would give him what he wanted if he was short. I do feel it terribly he was an ideal brother nothing was any trouble to him, I was to meet him another day, but we shifted here, little did I think that was the last time that I should ever see him again poor fellow he died doing his bit for his country and whatever he done it was done as a soldier should do it. The Captain said he was one of the best N.C.O. that he ever had. Percy is away at a Lewis Gun School, he was away when Albert was killed I have written to him today, Allan is here with me, we are both at the school, and we came here today you get the mail and that is the sadness I got, I suppose Allan will be writing to you but he does not know as much about it as I do. I do not know how you will ever stand it, but I feel broken up to think that we have lost such fine fellows as Albert and Geordie, we are out of the line for how long I do not know, but please God we will be spared to return to you as we have done our share in this war, however I trust that their lives will not have been given in vain, but it is hard to part with them. I am a Corporal now, I will take care of myself for your sake, and trust that the day is not far distant when we will be home again, I will write a line to Pearl and send it with this, I share with you the loss of our dear Geordie and deeply mourn his loss, I know you will feel it I can tell you I feel it very much, I will say goodbye for the present with love and sympathy to you all.

I will write again shortly.

I remain

Your loving

Charlie

While Charlie promises his family that he would take care of himself and ask God to spare the brothers, he knew that such promises and prayers were no defence against the destructive might of artillery and machine-guns. A sense of regret also pervades his words; they had done their share, yet without an end to the war in sight, the Marlow family would not be immune from the threat of another casualty.

Soon after Charlie wrote his anguished letter to his family, the men of the 38th were informed that their ‘rest’ period had come to an end. On 10 November Allan and Charlie were again on their way to the front line near Ypres, this time to hold the Warneton sector near Messines from 13 to 21 November. On the darkest of nights they made their way along broken duckboards through the network of damaged and waterlogged trenches to the front line where they began repairing the defences, a task they continued for eight days until they were relieved. They then made their way through the shattered remains of Ploegsteert Wood and camped a few kilometres to the rear at Romarin in reserve.¹⁵

A week after receiving the letter that brought the dreadful news, Charlie wrote to his family from the trenches near Messines.

Trenches

Thursday 15 November, 1917

My Dear Mother Father & Jim,

I received two most welcome letters from you today and your bonzer parcel. We are in the line again near where Albert is buried, dear mother I got the very sad news about dear Geordie only last Wednesday, you will have heard at home before I did, I wrote to the Captain of the Trench Mortars and I got the very sad news I wrote a short letter to you but since then I have been unable to write as we were on the march and then we came in the line. I did not think we would be in so soon. Ida wrote to the War Office about poor Geordie and I got her letter the day after I got the word from the Captain on the card she got was that Geordie died of wounds on Sept 21^st that was the day after he was wounded, he died at the 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station so he will be buried there, I will find out where that is and will let you know, I had no idea that the poor fellow would die from what his mates told me, it is terrible hard luck to lose and I feel it very much it breaks my heart to think that that we have lost both Geordie and Albert I feel it very much and cannot get it out of my mind I would dearly loved to have seen him before he died, I would have liked to have got both Geordie and Albert buried together, but there is no chance, I sent a cable home to you about a week ago, I also got word from London that there was money there for me I will get it alright, Percy is still away at a school I am with Allan he has got his commission as a Second Lieutenant so he has got on well he will be a First Lieutenant in 3 months they always get their second star after 3 months on Active Service. I am a Corporal as I told you before. Al called home to you that he was a second Lieutenant. He has got on well I think Percy will get a stripe when he comes back from the school he should have had one long ago but they put someone else over him, he should have got one before me as he has been in the army longer than I have and had a lot more training. Well Mother I got your Christmas box, that cake was the best I have ever eaten it was not dry or broken up it was just splendid George Collison and A. Sinclair were with me are in the same dug out I gave them some they said it was splendid Allan also got his box from you, I gave him some of my cake he thought it was very good, the parcel could not have come at a better time than now as we were in the line. Abe Sinclair also got one so we are well off today, living high, I got a letter from Bill Roberts and a letter came from Miss Roberts for Collison [and] Sinclair and I [think] she is sending a parcel each to the 3 of us for Christmas. Abe Sinclair said to tell you that we had quite a picnic today, dear mother do not send tea as we cannot get hot water very well what is best of all is cake lollies and cigarettes … Well dear Mother I know how you will be when you heard about dear Geordie it is terrible beyond words. I am writing this in my dugout I have plenty to do now as a Corporal I have to take a party out each night for rations and plenty of other work to do I will write again shortly. Well dear Mother I will say goodbye I share with you all in the sad loss of our dear Geordie, but hope that we may be spared to return to you once again. I will say goodbye with love and sympathy.

I am your loving

Charlie

While the field postcards were dashed off in haste, a week later, when the 38th was withdrawn from the front line, Charlie finally had a chance to write at length:

Nov 22^nd 1917

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

I got a lot of mail again tonight, we came out of the line last night after 8 days, we are close to where poor Albert and Tom Roberts are buried I intend to go to Albert’s grave, so far I have not found out where dear Geordie is buried, beyond 3^rd Casualty Clearing Station I think it is near Ypres I cannot help thinking about the poor fellow, it is awful to lose him and Albert I feel it terrible I wrote to you when I was in the line, of late I have not been able to write much owing to marching and being in the line and then being a Corporal I have a little more to do … you asked why A.S. was out of the machine Gun he was taken out as to get promotion I am now out of it they took me out to make me a corporal, but we are all still in the same platoon and company Percy is in charge of the machine gun section I am in charge of a section, but when we were in the line this time I was in charge of the rations when they came up the line, I had to see that it was dealt out to the whole company fair and square it was a good job, but next time I suppose I will have a different job, as we have different jobs at times and it does not make any difference to our promotion, when I was at the school I believe I got a good report so that goes a long way. Al will be going to an officers school, I believe soon. When we came out last night, about 3 miles from the front we got a hot drink of cocoa a packet of biscuits and two cigarettes, I think it was given by the YMCA and the comforts fund, it was like giving me £1, I can tell you I did enjoy it. I got your parcel for Xmas mother I thank you very much for it the cake, pudding and all the rest was splendid if you had seen us when we were eating it you would have thought the same. Percy got yours tonight also one from Auntie Florrie and a small one from Mrs G. Mahoney Percy’s cake from you was just like mine, bonzer, he has not opened Auntie Florries yet, Al got his parcel too we all thank you very much for the very nice cake and all the nice things, it must have been hard for you in your sad trouble to get them ready. I do feel sorry for you all at home at our sad losses for I know and feel it myself I know what it is over here and then Geordie has done so much it is hard luck, as he was an ideal brother without doubt, when I saw him he was just the same as he always was, his mates told me he was a fine soldier without a doubt I am trying to find out all I can about him, if there is anything you want to know about Albert or Geordie let me know and I will try and find it out, I will only be too pleased to do anything I can to relieve your anxious feelings I will write again soon, this is two mails in a fortnight but this has been delayed I will write to Pearl tonight, I will say goodbye for tonight with love and best wishes to you all, I share with you the loss of our dear Albert and Geordie.

I am your loving

Charlie

Back from the front line and housed in huts, each son had time in between unloading ammunition, repairing tracks and carrying supplies to the front to think of home, to unwrap parcels and to reply to letters. Allan wrote of his initial refusal to accept that George had gone. He complained to his mother that he would like his father to write and that there were some with whom he would rather not communicate. His letters reveal a sense of bitterness towards those men remaining in Australia and his views on conscription are abundantly clear, the death of his brothers fuelling his anger. In the chaos of battle, the capture of prisoners was not always the preferred option. After the death of two brothers, Allan had decided it was no longer the option he would choose, as he wrote to his parents: ‘I never intend to take any more prisoners.’ He proudly reports being commissioned, the first in his battalion to have risen from the rank of private to officer, and describes a watch ‘given’ to him by a Prussian Guard officer. Australian soldiers were notorious for collecting souvenirs from German prisoners, a pastime that, for some, proved quite profitable.

Allan delighted in the parcels that friends and family packaged and sent to the line, also mentioning Eva Jones, his neighbour across the paddocks, who was now a young lady and frequently referred to by the brothers in their letters to Jim as one of his latest love interests. Eva would watch for Sarah’s washing day from high on the hill and traipse across the paddocks, through the fences and down the dirt track to lend Sarah a hand. The boys never forgot her generosity and her support for their mother.

France [Belgium]

23-11-17

My Dear Mum & Dad,

… I have just come out of the trenches but things were fairly good there. Well dear mum there seems nothing of trouble lately. We got word the other day that poor old Geordie has died of wounds. It is awful to think that he is gone. I cant believe it yet not until I see his name published in the paper. Mum you people over there would [have] heard more about [it] and when he died than we did. It [is] no good mum I cant believe it so I will say no more about [it] not until I hear further. I have most tremendous mail to answer. I got 35 letters this mail practically all were got when I was in the line. Mum dear I got your lovely parcel. I must thank you it was a beaut. It was absolutely the best parcel that ever I got and once more what makes one appreciate it more was because I was in the trenches. Percy has been away to a school and he just came back in time to put a few days in the front line. That parcel was lovely next time you send me anything mum send a parcel like that, with plenty of smokes in it to. You don’t know how I appreciated that parcel. Well I said I got about 35 letters and then of them I would not give a tenny if I never got. I have not got any time for them. I wont mention any names but guess for yourself. Somebody is always hitting me up for not writing they forget what conditions we are living under and I reckon they think we do anything but writing and a man ought to send them a line saying never expect a letter from me. I am not so much terribly obliged by their letters. They might think I am but that’s not what I think. Now dad never writes to me he writes to Charlie and sometimes Percy. I cant make it out at all it has me absolutely beat. Mum do tell him to write to me I have had only two letters from him since being on service about 20 months. Mum when you write again do tell me why Mick Grant got the sack. I cant make it out at all. Dear Mum you seem to worry a terrible lot but give it up. Look as best you can on the bright side of things. Well dear mum it is 10 oclock so I think that I will go to bed so goodnight dear

Best love to all

I remain

Your Loving Son

Allan XXXXX

(I have no pencil so I am writing this with a very bad pen)

Allan wrote twice on the same day — the death of George had now been confirmed. In his second letter, Allan writes of his acceptance that another brother has been taken from them:

Belgium

23-11-17

My Dear Mum & Dad

… Well mum I received your welcome parcel about a week ago and it was lovely you don’t know how much I appreciate it and once more I got it when we were in the trenches. That cake of Eva was lovely Mollie chocolate also. Eva put a short note in. It was very good of her. I will write to her to night also Mollie. Well dear mum & dad also Jim poor old Geordie is gone alright it is awful I cant help thinking about our two boys, yet others will stand back, the cowards. We are terrible short of men at the present time. Us lads that are here are doing about 3 mens work & what thanks will we get when we get back. I do hope conscription comes in. No body in Ausy can credit what operations have been put before the Australian lately and such a lot of them too. The ground we have had to take lately was most difficult & when we have done it, they say well done you brave lads, but how many are in it? If I was some of those fellows over in Ausy I would feel ashamed to poke my nose out of the door. I could not tell any one that I was Australian born. The cowards. Well dear mum I have some good news to tell you & that is I am a 2^nd Lieutenant now. I was promoted to that rank on 3-11-17. I am simply delighted I cannot offer my allotment for awhile. I am the first one in my battalion that left Ausy as private to become an officer. Each officer has a batman & he cleans the boots look after my clothes and bed etc. It is tra bon. Well mum my next move is to become a 1^st Lieut and I reckon within 3 months I will get it I hope so anyway and then after that it goes by seniority. Some few letter back I was talking about cabling for money but I will not now. Mum one of these days I will send you home one of my stars for a keepsake and if I get [more] I will get them made into a brooch. I do hope you get my souvenirs that I sent a long time ago. I have another German watch which a Prussian Guard officer gave me. I took him prisoner he was a bit close to shoot. I never intend to take any more prisoners. I will [bring] the watch home one of these fine days. We are close to dear old Albert’s grave again & we are going up to see it one of these nights. You ask if Mr Gollan is still going strong. Well mum he was pretty badly wounded in first stunt he is over in blighty. I am glad you are going to have a good harvest. Fancy such a lot of floods. I would enjoy them if I was there I will never forget the big one. Everybody seemed terrible disturbed and one thing & another but I was having a time of my life. I often think of the good old time we used to have together ah what Mum remember that pretty little thing I bought at the Δ [Pyramid Hill] show and dad went crook. Wasn’t it funny. I could tell you lots of little things I say mum do you remember the quilting I got for swearing. Well mum I have to get up at 6 in the morning to take a party out on fatigue very nice aint it. She seems to be getting a bit breezy again. I think we will have the winter on us again before we know it. Yes mum you seem to be having a lot of visitors. I will be writing to Stones again. How’s Bobs that a jolly fine place. Well dear mum & dad I think I have told you all the news so I will close with love to all.

I remain Your Loving Son

Allan XXXXX

I sent you a cable about me getting my commission address 2^nd Lieut A.S. Marlow

D Company 38^th Batt 10^th Inf Brigade AIF Abroad

Lieutenant Robert Gollan had written to the Marlows after Albert had been killed. Robert had sailed on the Runic with Allan and Percy and was a member of D Company. He had been wounded in the head on 7 June 1917 and his hearing had been affected. He was deemed fit to return to the 38th only to be shot at Passchendaele in the back and left leg. On 6 May 1918 he was back with the unit when he sustained his third head wound. He recovered to be wounded once more on 24 August 1918 as the Australians pushed the German troops from the villages on the Somme at Bray and Curlu. His medical records state that he was hit by a piece of aeroplane debris which pierced his right leg. Robert Gollan returned to Australia in July 1919. He never fully recovered his hearing.¹⁶

Allan wrote to Jim:

Belgium

24-11-17

Dear Jim,

… Well Jim we are out of trenches at present but we go up everyday on fatigue work. I was up there yesterday things were fairly quiet. We will be holding the line in a few days. I received your welcome letters last week. I got 35 last mail some answering today ah what. Well Jim poor old Geordie has died of wounds alright oh it is terrible. For godsake Jim don’t let poor old mum worry to much. Cheer her up as best you can. Well Jim I am a 2^nd Lieutenant now I was promoted on the 3^rd 11-17. That is not to bad for me is it. I hope to get another star within about 3 months. I cannot alter my allotment for a while yet but will let you know as soon as I do so. Well Jim the cold weather is setting in again and I am afraid it will be a pretty [severe] winter. I hope it wont be like the one we had last year. I suppose you will soon be on the old harvester now. I suppose you don’t want a bag sewer. I do hope you have a good harvest. Tell mum I received her lovely parcel. I also wrote M.G and your Eva. Things are not bad down in the vally where the blue birds sings. I don’t write to the girl in Δ [Pyramid Hill]. No pour fini. Well Jim old man I think the war will [end] this year, next year, sometime never. Honestly I don’t think it will end for another couple of years. I do hope they get conscription in. I would love to see some conscripts looking over the top. Well Jim I think I have told you all the news so will close with best love.

I remain

Your Loving Brother

Allan

Never publish any of my letters

Allan’s earlier optimism concerning an end to the war had been dampened as he implored Jim to do his best to ease their mother’s sorrow and reminded his brother once again that he should not publish any of his letters in the local newspaper. Percy wrote home on the same day. It is clear that they had yet to hear that Bill Street had died of his wounds.

In the field

Nov 24

My Dear Mother Father & Jim

Just a few lines to let you know we are all well. I received your ever welcome parcel it came while I was in the trenches and they kept it till we came out. The cake was lovely and the other things were very useful and I thank you very much for it I must write and thank Mollie Gamble for the tin. Well Mum, you would have heard the terrible sad news of poor Geordie it was such a sad thing for us all, especially for you I feel so sorry. I was at a Lewis Gun School went [when] the sad news came, and I wrote to you then. Charlie wrote when we got no word from him. We are writing now to find out where he is buried. Well Dear Mother we have just come out for eight days, but we are doing fatigues up the line, I am lucky being number one on the Lewis Gun, I have to stop home and clean the gun, it does me I will do my best to make it flash, I have done my share of fatigues. We have had a fairly quiet [time] in the trenches, sometimes it was a bit warm, the trenches were a bit muddy and wet, they are not very old trenches, it is ground that has not long been taken from Fritz so there is not many dugouts so we did not get too much sleep, the nights are terrible long, nearly 14 hours, especially when you have to sit up. You will be surprised to hear that Allan has a star he got it a week or two ago, he was lucky. We are in huts, they are very warm, it is too cold for tents now. I don’t think it will be as cold this winter as last. Last year at this time we had snow it has been very good up to yet. We have a canteen here in one of the huts and there is tables in it, so I am making use of them. I have received a lot of letters from you and Jim lately a lot came while I was at the school. I had twelve days at a Lewis Gun school, it was a good stunt. I came back in time to catch them going in the trenches. You have been having a lot of wet weather over there, it would make it bad for ploughing. Well Mum, you was asking about Les Townsend, he is in England on leave now, he was not badly wounded. We have not heard from Bill Street or Albert Brooks, Spuddy Kerr lost his leg, it was stiff luck for him. Well Mum, I will close now hoping all are well, and sharing with you the loss of our dear brother.

I remain

Your Loving Son

Percy

As Christmas approached each son sent home cards with messages of greeting and Christmas wishes. They hoped these cheery greetings would arrive in Mologa in time to help ease the burden of the first Christmas since the death of George and Albert.

Charlie wrote home after visiting Albert’s grave:

27^th Nov 1917

My Dear Mother, Father and Jim

I am writing you a few lines tonight, at present we are out of the line, I wrote to you while I was in the trenches telling you what I could about Geordie, I got another letter from the Captain of the Trench Mortars but he was unable to tell me where Geordie is buried bar 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, so I have written to that place and hope to hear next week I will write and tell you as near as possible when I hear I have written a lot of letters inquiring about Geordie and have asked the Clearing Station for information, it is very sad indeed, being unable to find out anything about him makes it worse. Percy and I went to Albert’s grave on Saturday I was very pleased with the way it is looked after and kept so well, the grave is in perfect order and the cemetery is in a grand place and is already partly fenced in, it will be well cared for so you have no need to worry, the cross that I spoke about is not yet erected, I spoke to the Chaplain about it he said it would be done in time, at present there is a small cross with number name battalion etc. on a tin plate. Geordie grave will be similar as that Station mentioned above will be well back from the line … I am not in the Lewis Gun Section now, as I could not hold two stripes and be in it at the same time. Percy is the No 1 on the Gun it does not make any difference being out of it, I think you misunderstand the Lewis Gun for Machine Gun Company which is attached to the Brigade. I am in the same Platoon as Percy but attached to a different section. Well I will close for this time, I share with you the sad loss of our dear brothers which I feel sure you feel the same as I do. I will say goodbye with love and my sympathy, I am

Your Loving

Charlie

On 29 November the 38th Battalion was sent back to the front line in the Warneton sector. Unlike the previous stint just eight days prior, the line was now battered by artillery fire. The Allied response was to greet same with same. The pounding of the big guns was relentless. Holding the line as the winter approached became increasingly difficult and the men prayed that the winter would not be as severe as that of their first year on the Western Front, remembering the bitter cold of 1916.

THEATRES OF WAR

In France, Allied preparations for a surprise attack on the Hindenburg Line were underway. On 24 November at Cambrai, 80 kilometres north-east of Amiens, the Allies sent 324 tanks across a ten-kilometre front advancing on an unwary enemy. The use of tanks was generally scorned by the infantry who had witnessed their failings in previous battles.¹⁷ However, the employment of tanks on such a large scale had not been attempted to date. The tanks rapidly broke through the Hindenburg Line and were followed by infantry and cavalry. The attack was heralded a great success and celebrated across Britain. The elation was premature. Many tanks were hit and soon out of action and the Germans quickly brought up reinforcements. By 7 December much of what had been gained was lost; a small section of the Hindenburg Line remained in Allied hands, but a sector of the Allied front had been lost. While Cambrai revealed that tanks could be successfully employed, the battle had ended in yet another stalemate.

To the east, Lenin’s Bolsheviks had taken over Petrograd on 7 November. Russian forces had collapsed. Lenin now sought an armistice with Germany and German troops fighting on the Russian front were rushed to France and Belgium. On the Italian front, in the northern mountain ranges, the two and a half year stalemate between the Italians and the attacking Austro-Hungarian forces had been broken with the use of highly trained German storm troopers on 24 October. The Battle of Caporetto saw 180,000 Italians captured along with 1500 guns. The remaining Italian forces, nearing collapse, retreated 100 kilometres to the Piave River near Venice and, remarkably, held off the attacking force.¹⁸

MOLOGA, DECEMBER

In Australia, a second conscription referendum was more convincingly defeated than the first. Australia was to remain the only Allied country that did not rely on conscription. The controversy continued to divide the country between those who believed that Australia had sent enough of its young men to the front and those who believed that the soldiers needed support and that others should do their bit. Catholic and Anglican divisions deepened as the rhetoric of Prime Minister Billy Hughes and that of his opponent, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, resounded throughout communities across Australia. Australian soldiers abroad once again voted for conscription but by a narrow margin. Some wanted the ‘shirkers’ to have their turn, while others could not send others against their will into the hell that they were experiencing.

As social divisions deepened so did the fear of the ‘enemy within’. Many towns and geographical features that bore German names were renamed. Initially, those from countries with which Australia was at war were interned in camps which also held prisoners of war; these were mostly German sailors who had the misfortune to be in Australian ports when war was declared. As the war continued, the list of enemy aliens expanded to include those who had been born in enemy countries but had later become naturalised British subjects, along with Australian-born descendants of migrants from those countries. Many of those who were detained were later to be deported when the war finally reached its weary conclusion.

At Mologa, Charles Snr, Sarah and Jim were busy with the harvest. Their answer to the conscription question almost certainly will have been ‘Yes’ although, having lost two sons, I am not entirely convinced that Sarah would have voted for other sons to have been committed to the war. Anglican ministers generally encouraged their parishioners with patriotic fervour and their sons and brothers at the front all appear to have voted in favour. These were difficult times for Sarah who not only struggled to cope with the death of her two sons but also the passing of her father on 4 October. Cards and letters of condolence and this report from the Pyramid Hill Advertiser did little to ease her grief. Letters of congratulation on Allan’s promotion may have briefly provided some brighter moments.

CORPORAL GEORGE MARLOW

ROLL OF HONOR

Mologa

Mrs. Marlow, Mologa, has received the following letter from Capt. James D Johnston concerning the death of her son, Cpl. George Marlow.

Long before you receive this you will have heard of the death from wounds of your son No. 2748, Cpl. George Marlow, of this unit, but I know you will want to know something of the manner in which he met his death. We were making one of the biggest attacks of the year, and George was in charge of one of our teams. All went splendidly until he happened to be struck by a spare bullet. He was taken away immediately by the stretcher-bearers and we were confident that he would be quite safe. However, we were very sorry to hear that he had succumbed at one of the hospitals; at which one I do not myself yet know. No loss had been so much deplored by the boys in the battle as that of your son. He was one of the best N.C.O.s I ever had, and most popular. The men under him would go anywhere with him. The men have asked me to send you their sympathy, and asked me to say how much they deplore his loss. With the deepest sympathy of all the officers, N.C.O.s and men of the battery in your bereavement,

I am sincerely yours,

James D Johnston

Commander 2 A Light Trench Mortar Battery¹⁹

4 Comts

Parkhouse

Salisbury

England

Dec 1^st 17

Dear Mrs Marlow,

I trust you will pardon me if I am doing wrong in writing to you. I saw in an Australian paper here AW Marlow had been killed in action, as I heard Albert had made the supreme sacrifice from one of our 4/38 Batt boys. I used to hear from Albert regularly & when no news came through I thought something was wrong. What I knew of him he was a good living boy, it takes something to play the game. I sincerely hope your sons have been spared to come through the heavy fighting of late. I was transferred to A.S.C. [Army Service Corps] having had a lot of sickness in the Infantry. My brother Aiken was killed in action on Oct 1^st so I am left to represent one family. We are both single & I am thankful for it. We live near Bairnsdale-Vic. I do pity all you dear home folk it is not so bad for us here in England – We have not the worry you have at home but trust and pray the much talked end of the war will come to pass. Believe one to remain Dear Mrs Marlow

Yours fraternally

Harold Scott 2392²⁰

“The Lord giveth & the Lord taketh away”

P.S. Please do not bother replying

9-12-17

6 Hotham Grove

Elstenwick

Dear Mrs Marlow

We have twice written to you to express our sympathy with you in your bereavement, losing your two brave boys. Now, it is up to us to express our joy at seeing that your son Alan has won his commission. It is a grand thing for a young soldier to get especially as he has won it on the field. We are proud and delighted to be allowed to join in congratulating you on your boy’s promotion and hope that he will win much more and that the rest of the war will be to you a time free from trouble or fresh sorrow. May God bless & keep all your brave boys & send them safe home again.

Yours sincerely

A.W. Williams

Pyramid

Dec 10^th 1917

I wish to convey to you my sincerest congratulations on the promotion of your brave son Allan. He was the only one of your noble sons I knew personally, but I do earnestly hope that at some future date we will have the pleasure & honour of welcoming Allan & his gallant Brothers home again. You have every reason to be proud of such fine sons & we Australians are proud of you in having reared such noble men who are willing to give their lives for their country.

With kindest regards from Mrs Wood my sisters and myself.

I remain yours sincerely

C.E. Wood

BELGIUM AND FRANCE, DECEMBER

The 38th remained in the Flanders region throughout December as Allied soldiers rotated through the line. On 6 December they were relieved and made their way to Hill 63 and ‘Red Lodge’, a site a few kilometres behind the front line at Messines where the troops were treated to the luxury of powered dugouts nestled in the side of a hill, complete with bunks. While out of the line, fatigue duty required frequent treks to the front and brought the weary troops back within range of the enemy artillery. Being out of the line did not always guarantee safety.

Soon after, the battalion moved to Aldershot Camp on Waterloo Road, a position behind Neuve Eglise and to the west of Warneton. Percy was promoted lance corporal and was now in charge of the Lewis gun team, his promotion long overdue in the opinion of his brothers. On 20 December the 38th moved further back to Hollebeke Farm (Jesus Farm) near Steinwerch close to the familiar Armentieres.²¹ They spent Christmas here and, judging from their accounts, enjoyed the offerings supplied by their battalion cooks. Charlie had additional cause to celebrate, as he was promoted to the rank of lance sergeant just three days before Christmas. He now enjoyed the luxury of turkey for dinner on Christmas Day.

Early in December, as winter descended on the battlefields, Allan wrote to his neighbour Eva Jones as he had promised his mother, a letter Eva chose to keep (although the first page is missing).

… The second one was fought in the same sector but without a complete success, we suffered very heavily which was due to not enough artillery support on account of the lads not being able to get their guns forward on account of many different conditions. It was absolutely the worst time we have had yet. For slush and water also machine gun fire and shellfire we found it almost impossible to make good progress. Anyway we got out of that place with a few men. From there we went back a few miles for a spell of about 3 weeks, then we went up into the trenches again and at [present] we are out but will be returning in a couple of days. The weather is getting very cold again and I am afraid we are in for a severe winter but we will have to put up with it. I believe Charlie Fyffe has landed home. By jove he is lucky. We have been in France about 15 months now and they tell us we will be getting a long spell soon. I hope to be going over to Paris next month. I got leave to England about 3 months again [ago]. Well Eva I think I have told you all the news so will close with kind regards to all.

I remain your Loving Friend

Allan. S. M.

Many thanks for the parcel.

P.S. I forgot to tell you that I was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant last month. I will send you a photo one of these fine days. Eva I think the war will end this year, next year, sometime never. Tell them in Mologa to keep the old flag flying. ASM

Charlie wrote to his mother with sadness as he described Albert’s prediction when visiting his English relatives and of receiving word that Bill Street and Bill Crossman had died:

… When I was in England Auntie Payne told me about poor Albert saying that he would get knocked he said :- Auntie I will leave these things here for Charlie as I suppose I will get knocked, but he never at anytime was frightened he went all through the battle of Messines with us and took it as an every day occurrence, he never said anything to me about being knocked, he was very game. Harry Street has not heard much about Bill’s death, I saw in the paper where Bill Crossman had been killed …

Bill Crossman was 32 when he left the farm at Milloo to enlist in February 1916. He was discovered to have poor eyesight and was discharged a few months later. There his war records inexplicably end. Bill later sailed with Charlie in September 1916. He was allotted to the 59th Battalion and was killed on 29 September 1917, one of the many lost to the fields of Flanders. His name is etched on the Menin Gate. ²² His brother Samuel had enlisted in July 1915 and was a gunner with the 4th Field Artillery. He survived and returned to Australia in March 1919. ²³

Charlie wrote:

9^th Dec 1917

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

Yesterday I received the money you cabled to London, I had it sent on to Ida and she sent it to me. I thank you very much for it and will give it back to you when I get back. Today I got a photo for each of us of Geordie and when I look at it it breaks my heart to think that I will never see him again and to think that he should die of wounds like he did. I wrote to the 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station to find out all I could about his death later on I will send you the letter also a letter that the sergeant of the Trench Mortars wrote I want you to keep them for me, the first note said he was hit in the stomach and left hip and died on the 22 Sept but this is wrong he died on the 21 Sept the note said he received every consolation at the time of his death and where he is buried I will look up the map and will give you the exact place I am writing again to the burial people and if I get near I will try and put a cross over him. I told you before that I went and saw Albert’s grave that was about a fortnight ago, the cross is not erected and now to my mind it will not be done, so I am going to see what I can do myself, of course it is hard to get away but if I have the money I will get the Pioneers or Engineers to do it and the same with Geordie’s. I would like to put a nice cross over them both, and would have liked to have had them both buried together, it seems hard to think that they are gone, I cannot get any information as to how Geordie died, or whether he was conscious or if he said anything, I think I will write to the Chaplain of the 3^rd Canadian CCA. Percy may get leave to England shortly he was very cut up over Grandfather dying but I partly expected it, as he was so old and could not last much longer but still I was very sorry to hear the sad news I would have very much liked to have seen him again. I heard that one of Pearl’s brothers have died, we seem to be having our share of bad luck. I hope that it will change for the better now and that we will have no more bad luck. We are out of the line again and will be out for Christmas and I believe a rest, but this Christmas will be a sad one for us all and I hope for better days to come and that the three of us will be spared to return again. There is to be another referendum on the war business over here. I am sending one of the letters that the Sergeant wrote to me about Geordie, you may show it to anybody or put it in the paper but keep the letter for me. And about the photos of Geordie I got Ida to send them home to you I want you to send one to Pearl for me Geordie told me he did not make a will in Victoria but I understood him to tell me that he made one while he was on leave in England and I think that will be sent on to you from Horseferry Road London or from the base in Victoria. Every soldier over here is issued with a will form to make a will if he pleases whether Geordie made it on that I do not know, the form they give us is useless to make a will on as it is too brief, but if he made it on that, it will be sent on to you. Albert, I think made a will on the issued form, he also made a will in his paybook, but if he made one on the issued form the paybook one would be cancelled, the forms were given to us the day before the advance on 7 June. You asked who was killed with Albert, Lieut, A.G. Abbey, Lieut Windham, Serg N. Onians, Serg P.J. Cunningham. I hope you will be able to read this but I am writing this in an uncomfortable place. Last night I wrote the Chaplain of the Canadian C.C.S. for information I will let you know as soon as I can what he has to say. I am sending this with a letter to Pearl she will send it on to you let me know if you get it, we are near where Albert is buried. Well I will close for this time I will write soon, I share with you all the sad loss of dear Geordie and I know you will feel it the same as I do.

I will say goodbye

With love to all

I am your loving

Charlie

One of Charlie’s letters appeared in the January edition of the Pyramid Hill Advertiser. The article began with an introduction:

Sergeant Chas E Marlow. Who has recently gained promotion from temporary corporal and corporal has recently received the following letter in the field:

France

1.12.17

Dear Charles

Your letter of Oct 31^st to hand. The delay was caused by me being at a school and the letters being sent on after I had left, so they had a trot round until they landed back here again. Your letter also reached the C.O. of the Battery and I believe he wrote to you recently. I am sorry indeed to have to tell you that George was wounded 20.9.17 and died of wounds 21.9.17 at 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. The wounds were Gun Shot wound in the Stomach and right Leg. I cannot give you the place of burial, but if you wrote to the O.C. Anzac Section, 3^rd Echelon GHQ. BEF. I think he would be able to give you it. I had known George for nearly 18 months and he was a fine type of manhood. Quiet going, honest and as straight as anyone I know. He was well liked and highly thought of by all the Battery, and to gain the respect and admiration of your comrades is something to be proud of, which I think you know only too well. I cannot express my feelings I have for you and those of your home — words seem empty — but I want you to know that your late Brother George has left a name behind him in this Unit which you should be proud of. Please accept these words and thoughts of mine in your great loss.

Yours very sincerely

Norman Day

Lieutenant Norman Day had served in the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery with George, having signed up in June 1915. He was shot near Herleville Wood on the Somme on 25 August 1918 and died from his wounds in a London hospital on 21 September 1918, exactly 12 months to the day after the death of George.²⁴ At Mologa, Jim received word from his mate, Tom Alford, who had earlier been listed as missing. He appears completely unaware that there was any question over his whereabouts. What is certain, however, is that, for Tom, the excitement of the grand adventure is over …

December 10^th 1917

Dear Jimmy

Well how is the old sport going along. Expect you will be looking for another letter. Haven’t done much writing lately as things have been up to shit judging by this last few days rain will be worst but so far this winter has been a king to last not near as cold as last but it is young yet. Haven’t had any letters lately but expect they are lying about somewhere. Suppose you will be up to your neck in work by this. What sort of a year have you had. I don’t seem to have heard anything about the prospects at all lately. Haven’t been fortunate enough to strike any of the boys lately. I thought I might when we all got on the same front. I have had a lot of pals killed lately, am just getting that way that I don’t give a damn. Wish to God it would finish. Didn’t like going back after having leave. Don’t know if I told you before but I met the two Stone boys. They hadn’t been on the line then but expect they have had a gut full before now. I say Jimmy what is doing at the P.O. I still get letters from that way but they are mostly about Fred Bramley & Myrtle doings. Is he got a leg in with her now. Well good luck to ‘em. Your only young once is about all I can see in it. Well don’t know what to write about damn me if I do, so with best regards to your people from you old pal

Tom Alford

Allan wrote two letters to his parents on the same day, the second after receiving news that his grandfather had passed away. The letter conveys his sense of melancholy as thoughts of home on his birthday and the prospect of Christmas spark a longing for the life he once knew at Mologa. He asks his mother and father to pass a message regarding ‘minnies and pineapples’ to Frank Dee who had now arrived back in Australia after suffering a gunshot wound to his abdomen. A German ‘minnie’ or minenwerfer was a medium trench mortar. A ‘pineapple’ was a light German trench mortar shell that was grooved into sections and would fragment on bursting. Both had distinctive sounds and both were deadly.

Belgium

10.12.1917

My Darling Mum & Dad,

… I have had 3 parcels from you in 3 weeks. They were all bonzers. Well mum I got a terrible shock just now. I asked the captain what was the date and when he said the 10^th I said why hell I am 22 today. I am getting old now. I have had 2 birthdays in France now. Well dear Mum we have just came out of the trenches again, we had a pretty rough run. We have had our first snow for the winter. This time last year it was dreadfully cold but now its not bad at all. Last night I was up in the trenches with a fatigue party of 50 men we were repairing trenches. It was a brute of a job. Tonight I am not going up 2 other officers go up. In a few days we go back for about a month. So that means we will be out for Xmas (Hurrah). We will be soon having a vote for the Refer-. A big yes from me. Fancy old Frank Dee being back. Remember me to him when you see him. Tell him we are still getting Minnies & Pineapples. Charlie Fyffe is back too. Some boys are lucky. Tell Jim I have another Fritz watch to send home also a bonzer revolver. I have not got my Paris leave yet but I am trying to work it in for Xmas. Do you remember the team meeting at the hall. Weren’t they tra bon. I suppose you don’t have them now. I met Wilson Townsend a few days ago. He looks well. I had letter from Les too. He is in England on leave. He got slightly wounded in our first stunt at Pashendale. I cant find out anything about Bill Street. I think he is gone. But mum dont say a word about until I get official news. I got a letter from poor old Geordies officer. He wrote such a nice letter. Mum don’t worry so much. It is terrible hard you know. Fancy Mick Grant ah. It is awful about him I cant hardly believe it you know. Mum I have some photo of different people cousins & so forth They are only getting broken & ruined so I am going to send them home will you keep them until I return. It makes me laugh when I hear anyone use the underlined word I think the only way we will end the struggle is by peace. Well dear mum this is all the news to day so I will close with best love to all.

From your loving

22 year old son

Allan

… I suppose Jim is on the old harvester and you can’t see him for dust. Dad on the bags and mum on the lunch. Just picture me at the lunch. Well I hope the crops turn out well I think we will be home for next Xmas so keep an extra bag of wheat for the fowl. Mum get those ducks in good order. I think we will have the old black rooster last. We will have some rabbit and hare sausages to. Ask Jim does he remember the ones we made on Sunday when you was in Bendigo & Dad said, “None to much fat in them now Jim”. By jove I have laughter at times when I have thought of our little incidents.

Well hurrah dear mum

… Just another few lines to let you know how very sorry I am to hear about poor old Grandad’s death. I got [a] terrible shock when I heard the news from Percy. But you know mum he was a big age. We seem to have our share of trouble lately, but I sincerely hope it is ended now. So mum cheer up dear. Lets have a cheery letter now. We [will] all soon be home again eating those ducks etc. We are out of the line at present but we go up every night on fatigue work but in a few days we will be moving back again. I hope to be able to get a few little things to send home to you I wrote you a letter this morning and told you all the news…

Allan’s letter to Jim illustrates the intensity of his hatred for the enemy; ‘for King and Country’ is now secondary to avenging the deaths of his brothers. He is pessimistic at the prospect of an end to the war and his reflections of home are tinged with the melancholy of longing for the life he once enjoyed.

Belgium

10.12.17

Dear Jim,

…We have just come out of the trenches. We had a pretty ruff turn too. Now we go up every night on fatigue, repairing trenches so forth. In a few days we will be moving back clear of the line for a little while. We had our first snow the other day. This time last year it was brutal cold but now its not to bad. I received your welcome letters the other day. I was terribly sorry to hear about grandfather but you know Jim he was a big age. Percy is taking it pretty bad. We had some letters from poor old Geordies officer. Oh Jim it is awful to think that both him and dear Albert have gone. We will realise it more when we get back. We have had a terrible bad run. I have given Fritz no mercy since dear Albert was killed and I can tell you we have been in pretty close quarters at times too and I have had the good luck to come off best. Our boys absolutely stonker them all now. They will never do us any good I have seen [a] good many of his tricks on the battle field and seen lads lose their lives through being too easy with them. I have seen some of their doing with the poor women of Belgium and when they tell you about it, [it] would break your heart. So when you think of it what are we here for. To kill. No doubt Jim you will be pleased to hear that I am a 2^nd Lieutenant now and I hope to get higher too. Jim tell mum all will soon be home cheer her up as much as you can. I had a letter from Les Townsend the other day. He is on furlough in England having a great time. He was slightly wounded in our first stunt at Pashendaele. That is where we had terrible fighting. Fancy Tom Gibson enlisting. His people are dam fools to let him go. We hold our referendum to morrow. I am one of the authorised witnesses. I am cursing it as I wanted to write letters. I hope it goes through. How are the Johnson’s. I would like to see u u u in the front line. It would take all the dancing out of him. Well Jim I suppose you are terrible busy with the harvest now I suppose you cant see your self for dust. How is it for a job of bag sewing. I bet you get some lunches ah. A man ought to be there even if it only for the lunch …

It was Allan’s day for letter-writing with three letters home, while twin brother Percy wrote an unusually long letter to Jim:

In the field

Dec 10^th

Dear Jim,

Received your ever welcome letter, with the sad news about Poor Grandad, of which I was very sorry to hear about, it gave me a great shock especially not long before hearing about Poor Geordie. Well Jim, things are going just the same, the war seems no nearer an end than ever it was. I suppose you heard before this that Allan has a star, some boy now eh. We are out of the trenches now, just behind the line doing fatigue work at night. I miss it, being number one on the Lewis Gun, have to clean the gun in the day time, does me Jim, I have had my share of fatigue. The night work is a sod of a job, a long way to walk to it, and when you get there, its so dark to see what you are doing. We had a livelier spin in the trenches this time than before, he gave us a bit of hurry up with shells at times he can make it feel very uncomfortable for you if he likes. The nights were terrible long, about fourteen hours and a nice frost in the bargain. The trenches we were in are not very old and there are not many dugouts in fact where we were there was not any and when we have to sit up all night, you wish for morning. We had two raids in one night on our sector, not our Battalion went over, a raiding party from two of the other Battalions of the Brigade they wake old Fritz up. I see by your letter you have had a visit from Mrs Stone who brought with her a couple of girl friends well known to me especially the latter Selina “don’t quite get you Jim”. Well, I will admit I know her Jim, but that is about all. Better give you the good oil. You remember that turnout at Stones before we left; well I could not get rid of her and I did my best. She could not see who I was paying the best regards to for the night I don’t know why. The first dance she thought I was going to have with her, only one thought it. Never want to take any notice of Mrs Stone, she would tell you anything, so as not to stop talking. Ruby Lee is a hard case Jim. We had snow the other week first for the winter. I think we are going to have a better winter than last. I suppose you will be well on with the harvest now. Like to get to England for Xmas Jim, I ought to get leave soon. I have had a fair run …

In the field

Dec 11^th

My Dear Mother & Father,

Well Mum, its terrible sad about Poor Grandad. It gave me a great shock I never thought such sad news would come so soon. It breaks me up to think that I will not see him anymore, my sympathy is with you Dear Mother in this time of sorrow…We have not heard from Bill Street since he has been wounded. Harry Street who is back with the battalion was trying to find out he has written to England. I am expecting leave anytime now I would like to get it for Xmas it ought to be good in England Xmas time. We have had some lovely frosts this last night or two, when you get a frost here it is one. I suppose you are well on with the harvest now you will be having hot weather while we will be having just the opposite. I don’t think this winter will be as bad as last. I think I told you in my last letter that Allan has a star some head now. Some of Fritz aeroplanes came over today and our planes set on to one and set it alight. Fritz dived for the ground but did not reach it before the plane fell to pieces there were two men in it they got a terrible fall. When it caught alight he tried to get to his lines but he did not succeed. Well Mum I have run out of news so I will close hoping this finds you all well as we are at present.

I remain your ever loving son

Percy

Charlie wrote a detailed letter describing his promotion to lance sergeant and Percy’s to lance corporal.

In the field

15-12-17

My Dear Mother Father & Jim

… You will be pleased to hear that I have been promoted from Temporary Corporal to Corporal and from Corporal to Lance Sergeant. I do not know whether you know what a Lance Sergeant is but a L Sgt does not get Sgts pay like a Temporary Sgt, but is entitled to wear 3 stripes and sgts mess and cannot be reverted to Corporal like a Temporary Sgt. If a Temp Sgt goes to hospital sick or wounded or if reinforcement NCO’s come in he goes back to Corporal, A.S. was a Temp Sgt once and reinforcement Sgt came in and he had to go back to Cpl, but I will not be reverted if the above was the case. Address my letters Sergeant C.E. etc they never mention the lance. Percy was made a Lance Corporal the same day 12.12.17, he should have been a lot higher, they put some shady work in and sent a chap that was below him on the gun away to a school and made him a LCpl the same fellow is now a Temp Sgt, it was through the Lewis Gun Officer then that P.P. got his stripe. A.S. will be a First Lieut after he has had his first star 3 months. We have been out of the line about a week and will be here for some time so there is no need for you to worry. I have written again to the 3^rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station this time to the Chaplain to try and get information about poor Geordie. I feel it very much not being able to find out anything about him I wrote to the sergeant who wrote to me from the Trench Mortars. I sent the letter home to you through Pearl. When I get the reply from the Chaplain I will send you word…

20^th Dec 1917

Dear Jim,

… We are expecting a mail soon we got a letter last mail from Auntie Florrie to say that Grandfather had died, and soon after that you will have got the sad news of Geordie, I have written to you all before and told you all about it. I wrote to the Clearing Station and asked where Geordie’s grave was, the C.O. sent the Map Reference and the name of the Cemetery, so far I have not been able to get hold of the map but I saw a French map and was able to trace the place. I cannot tell you where it is owing to Censor, it is a hard blow to all of us and it is hard that he should die so suddenly. Harry Street got word the other day that Bill had died of wounds. I wrote to the Streets yesterday he lived about a fortnight after he was wounded, Harry did not hear where Bill was buried. Well I will close for this time and will be writing again soon, I will say goodbye with sympathy to all.

I remain

Your loving Brother

Charles

Harry Street had also suffered the agonising wait to hear news of his brother. He wrote to his parents in a letter which later appeared in the local newspaper:

Harry Street, writing to his parents from France, where his brother met his death in action there towards the close of last year, said: I suppose you have heard of Will’s death long before this. As nobody here seemed to know where he was and none of his mates got any word of him, I decided to write to Military Headquarters, London, and to my surprise received word saying that he died of wounds in the head and side, penetrating the abdomen. He was wounded on 12th October and died on the 26th, so I fancy he must have had a very bad time, as he lingered a fortnight before death. I suppose blood poisoning set in. The last time I saw him was the day before I was wounded myself. That was about June. I can just imagine that you folks feel it very much, as I can tell you I do, away in the wilderness, and no friends, but anyway I feel that we have given the best, and I hope that I shall be spared to return home to tell the tale of this terrible war. I am trying to find out where he was buried so that I may get the chance to have some little bordering put around his grave and get a photo to send to you, but there are others that are broken hearted as well. If he was buried in England I would have got someone to visit his grave, but of course I do not know yet where he is buried. Some of his mates tell me that our Battalion was marching up to the front line to go into action; that Will was at the head of his gun team, when a big shell from the German heavy artillery landed just in front of him, with the result that a good number of the men were put out. Alb. Sinclair told me he saw Will in the dark not long afterwards, and he said he felt very ill. He was walking back to the dressing station, so I had hopes after hearing that that when he could walk a bit he would not be so bad; but as no word came from him I felt anxious. I will not say more about it at present. It is dreadfully cold here now (17 Dec.) It has been snowing all the morning and we have been out doing fatigue work. We are short of men and of course: get a lot of extra work to do and we don’t get much rest. I am well at present and hope you are the same. I know the bad news will spoil your Christmas, but you must cheer up. I will be out of the line for Christmas, and will certainly think of you all, as I do every day. I will enclose the letter I got from London.²⁵

With the death of Bill Street now confirmed, on Christmas Eve Charlie’s thoughts turned to home and the grief he felt over the loss of his brothers:

Christmas Eve

In the field

My Dear Mother, Father and Jim,

A few lines tonight to say we are all well, Allan is at a junior officers school, it is not far away he was here yesterday and I saw some of the officers today, I think he will be back here tomorrow. Tomorrow of course is Christmas day and under the circumstances we will have an excellent dinner we Sergeants have got two turkeys, pork, beans, nuts, chocolate, plum pudding, cake, cigarettes and numerous other things, the men I think will have a splendid dinner of something the same as us bar turkeys we have got an excellent cook. I will tell you tomorrow what it is like, but there is to me a sadness tonight when I think that Albert and Geordie are gone … I have partly found out where Geordie is buried and I will make certain next week, he is buried In Lyssenloek [Lijssenthoek] Cemetery I will, in my next letter, give you the town which that is near I will just write the name of the town so you will know what it means, and later on I will give you fuller details, get hold of a map of two countries, it is in the same country as where Albert is buried, well I will close for tonight and will write again tomorrow and tell you about our Christmas. Percy is here and is quite well …

Charlie wrote again on Christmas Day:

25^th Dec 1917

My Dear Mother Father Jim

Just a few more lines tonight we had a splendid dinner, it will no doubt interest you to hear what we had, I mean sergeants, well we had two turkeys, pork, plum pudding, custard with the turkey, we had onions, potatoes seasoning some sweets of all descriptions, bread, coffee cigarettes, and for those who wanted it beer wine champane I did not partake in the last 3 items, but the turkey was my height it was splendid beyond words and the best feed I have had since I left home we had our dinner at about 5 oclock, the men had dinner at 1 oclock and the sergeants waited on them, I was Orderly Sergeant for today it was my job to see that the men were all fed etc, the men had roast beef carrots potatoes and plenty of it plum pudding tinned fruit custard and beer cigarettes they had a splendid dinner, of course ours was much better but we paid for the turkeys we have a sergeants mess, the turkeys were young and fairly dear. Allan is at a junior officers school but he comes here every Sunday etc he was here today. I do not know if I told you the YMCA gave every soldier a nice little writing wallet this is the paper I am writing on. Well I am looking out for a mail from you, we will be out of the line for a long time so do not worry. I share you feelings today in the loss of dear Geordie and Albert, it sets a sadness to it all. I will say goodbye with sympathy to all

I remain

Your loving Charlie

A few days later, Percy described his Christmas dinner to his family:

In the field

Dec 28

My Dear Mother Father & Jim

Just a few lines to let you know we are all well hoping you are the same. Well we have had xmas, no turkey for dinner, roast beef, carrots, and potatoes, plum pudding to follow, it was a fairly good dinner. We were out of the line, that was one thing, it was snowing part of the day, the place was white. It is very cold over here now, some nights you would nearly freeze. We have some lovely frosts, and I suppose you are nearly roasting over there. How are you getting on with the harvest, were you finished by Xmas.

We are expecting a mail anytime now, it’s a good while since we had one. I suppose there is a lot of traffic and they cannot get the mail over the channel. I suppose you heard about Bill Street, it was bad luck, he died on the 26th Oct of wounds, received on the 12 Oct. I believe Dave Mullens, from Terricks, was killed. I saw some of the chaps that was in his Company. Gordan McKay is not far from us, Charlie and I went to look for him yesterday, we did not see him. Les Townsend will be back soon, he is in England at present. We are in huts now, they are not too bad, they are warmer than tents.

Well Mum , I will ring off now, I will be writing again in a few days, so I am your

Loving son

Percy

As promised, Charlie wrote to his family and included the name ‘Poperinghe’ to tell them where George was buried:

Sat 29^th Dec

In the field

My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,

… I have not gained any more information regarding Geordie. I wrote to the Sergeant of the T.M. and he was at a school and could not give me the information I required but said that all Geordie’s private things would be sent home to you I do not know about his watch when I last saw him it was not going I do not know if he had it on him at the time he was hit, but I wrote to the Sergeant about it, however I think it will go home if it was on him. I would very much like to get it. I hope you got those photos safely and will you send one of them to Pearl for us. I wrote to the Chaplain of the Clearing Station but so far I have not got an answer.

Popperinge.

We are camped near where Albert is buried Allan is at a junior officers school, I think Percy will be going on leave to England next week he was asked about it today so I think he will get it alright. Gordon McKay is camped about a mile away from us but I have not seen him. Bill McKinnon told me he was there, all the Australians are in the one corps now and we wear our hats up at the side like the others. I do not know if you know that our division at first wore the hat down all round and the badge in the front, none of the men cared about it and were very pleased when it was altered. We are a long time getting a mail I was very sorry to hear of grandfather’s death but it could only be expected on account of his great age. We heard that Dave Mullens was killed so inquired and found that it was only too true, I wrote a letter of sympathy to the Mullens’… I see by the paper the Hughes Conscription Bill failed again I wonder what he will do next … I suppose you will be finished harvest by now, the time seems to go so quick I have been 12 months in France, we are well out of the line. Well I will draw to a close for this time I trust that you are all well but I know how you will all feel at the terrible blow which we have received through this war, but trust that there are better days to come. I will say goodbye with love and sympathy to all. I am your loving

Charlie

Allan found time to scribble a quick line:

Belgium

29-12-1917

…Well we had a very decent Xmas & I hope you had the same. It snowed all day but that was nothing. Well dear mum we are out of the line at present and I think we are going to get a bit of a spell and I hope it is true. Well dear mum we are having a pretty decent winter this year not near so bad as last. Well dear mum I am at a brigade officers school and we are having a pretty decent time. I believe Percy is going to Blighty soon. I have not got away to Paris yet but hope to get away as soon as we finish up the school … Well dear mum I suppose you are terribly busy [with] the harvest yet I hope it turns out well. I believe you have a good year over there … I don’t think the war will last much longer now…

THE MIDDLE EAST AND EASTERN EUROPE

As 1917 drew to a close across the theatres of war, the overall position of the Allies provided little cause for jubilation. In the Middle East, the famed Light Horse charge at Beersheba on 31 October had paved the way for the Allied forces to gain control of Jerusalem and Baghdad. By late December, Germany and her Turkish ally had effectively lost control of the Middle East. But the good news was tempered by sombre reports arriving from the Eastern Front. The Russian army had ceased to exist. German forces were making their way en masse to the battlegrounds of France and Belgium while the Kaiser boasted that his storm troopers would be invincible. By spring 1918, the concentration of German soldiers on the Western Front would create a formidable force.