TWENTY TWO

HE WAS A GALLANT
YOUNG SOLDIER

THE WESTERN FRONT, JUNE

By June, the German forces were exhausted. To the north in Flanders the Allies had held the line, beating back the German offensive. South of the Somme, American forces had arrived and fought off a German attack on the Marne and there were now more American troops arriving daily. Australian battalions, usually at around 1000 men, were now down, in some cases to 300; there were no reinforcements arriving from Australia.

Allan’s war records indicate that he was appointed Battalion Lewis Gun Officer on 8 June 1918. Two days later he was seconded for duty with the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot at Le Havre on the French coast for duty as censor. Three weeks earlier, the commanding officer of the 38th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Davis, had been promoted colonel and appointed to a leadership position at Le Havre. It would be interesting to know who made the decision to remove Allan from the line. Was it Davis, the commanding officer who had been with his men from the battalion’s inception, or Major Maudsley who, in his letter of condolence, had promised Sarah that he would do his best to keep Percy from harm? For Allan the decision was met with mixed emotions; to leave the family of his battalion and his cobbers from D Company was difficult as they had been through so much. But his parents had lost three sons. The Marlow family had sacrificed enough.

Allan did not reveal the reasons for his base duties in his letters home. Years later, Jack Lockett provided an explanation when he described the order ‘Akers’ received to leave the front. Allan had almost certainly been posted as a result of the losses to the family. With three brothers killed, the AIF moved to limit the chances of yet another Marlow death. While Allan’s attempts to have Percy repatriated had yet to bear fruit, he now found himself removed from the line. His duties presented a stark contrast to his earlier role at the front and, despite the safety of his position, his later letters reveal his eagerness to return to the line and to his ‘boys’. His frustration is clearly evident.

During this period, the 38th Battalion had been moving in and out of the line around the shattered village of Villers-Bretonneux. Good friend and neighbour, Peter Owens, was wounded on 4 June, along with George Collison, whose wounding on 11 June resulted in the loss of his leg. Ewen Johnson of the 60th Battalion, who had married in England only a few weeks earlier, suffered his third serious wound. Despite the severity of this wound, he survived to return to Australia.

From June there are few letters, perhaps because a number of ships were lost from June to August 1918. HMAT A69 Warilda, carrying wounded soldiers and emblazoned with the red cross of a hospital ship, was torpedoed and sunk while crossing the channel on 3 August with the loss of 123 lives. HMAT A43 Barunga was also torpedoed and sunk on 15 July while en route to Australia with 855 invalided soldiers, all of whom survived. It is highly likely that Australian mail was lost as the family at Mologa did not receive any correspondence from Allan during the months of June and July. Writing to Jim in December, Allan could not provide a reason for the failure of his letters to reach home. I suspect they were lost somewhere in the North Atlantic.

But the family at Mologa did receive a letter from Percy in England dated 23 June. This letter provides some clue to the movements of the brothers, but nothing of Allan’s experiences as he made the transition to Le Havre. While Percy does not mention the death of Charlie, he is likely to have received the letters from Allan informing him of the death of their brother.

Warminster

England

23.6.18

Dear Jim

… I will be pleased to get that snap of you, I have not got a photo of you. I put a photo in I had taken when on sick leave, it’s the best I have ever had taken. I heard from Allan the other day he was detailed for Base Duties, so he is at L’Havre now, so he will have a bit of a spell out of the trenches, he needs it too. We are having nice weather now; its about the best time in England now. I am still working in the sergeants mess, it will do me for a stunt. Well Jim, old boy, I spose you are up to your eyes in work now.

Well Jim, I must ring off now, hoping you are all well.

I remain your loving brother

Percy

JULY

July was the month that Australian Lieutenant General John Monash was to make his mark on the battlefields of World War I. Between Villers-Bretonneux and Albert lies the village of Le Hamel which remained in German hands. Monash, in his first major action as a corps commander, combined artillery, tanks, infantry and aircraft to take the village in 93 minutes in one of the best-planned attacks of World War I. He had hoped it would take 90. The enemy line was bombarded and gassed then, as brigades from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions and some American companies moved forward, aircraft bombed Le Hamel. The roar of the bombing masked the sound of 60 rumbling Mark V tanks, a faster, more robust version of its predecessors. As the tanks protected the infantry, aircraft destroyed German machine-gun nests. Monash’s moment arrived on 4 July 1918. His combined arms battle plan became a model for further Allied offensives in 1918.¹ French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau was so delighted by the Australians’ success that he rushed to the front to offer his thanks. He addressed a group of the troops who had taken Le Hamel:

When the Australians came to France, the French people expected a great deal from you … We knew that you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning you would astonish the whole continent … I shall go back tomorrow and say to my countrymen: “I have seen the Australians. I have looked in their faces. I know that these men … will fight alongside of us again until the cause for which we are all fighting is safe for us and our children.”

The fighting during July had taken a further toll on the mates of the Marlow brothers. Jim Stone, brother of Joe and Myrtle, was wounded on 9 July but would return to his battalion in October. Charlie Cockcroft was badly wounded on 29 July; he recovered to be married in England in November and to return to Australia in December. Tom Alford was wounded on 5 July; his wound was listed as slight and he continued on duty. Tom did not get the ‘Blighty’ he so desperately wanted.

AUGUST

Rumours of a ‘big push’ were to become reality. On 8 August, at 4.20 am, with the British advancing in the north, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Australian divisions and the Canadian Corps advanced together in the Amiens Offensive. This was the beginning of what became known as the Hundred Days Offensive, a series of Allied victories from August until November which saw German forces pushed back and villages reclaimed in an advance of extraordinary rapidity. The offensive was launched on 8 August, the soldiers tasked with destroying the enemy positions south of the Somme; the French attacked still further to the south. Under the veil of dense river fog and a barrage of artillery fire, the men pushed forward to take the German line in the most significant advance made by Allied troops to that point. By nightfall, the Australians alone had advanced over 11 kilometres, taken 8000 prisoners and 173 guns. By 12 August, Australia had suffered another 5991 casualties, but had advanced 20 kilometres towards the Hindenburg Line and taken 10,000 German prisoners.² The success of the offensive forced the German General Ludendorff to admit that ‘… the 8th August was the black day of the German Army in the war … The war must be ended.’³ The Americans had arrived on the front and German troops would soon be outnumbered. At home, the German people were starving. Ludendorff knew it was time to negotiate. The Kaiser did not.

The advance across the 1916 Somme battlefields continued. Series after series of shattering blows hit the enemy as village defences crumbled. The morale of the Allied troops soared and those not in the ‘big push’ were considered to have missed something remarkable. Allan wrote briefly of the advance and his disappointment at not being involved as the relentless advance pushed the German army back to the defences of the Hindenburg Line.

France

15-8-18

Dear Jim

I have just received a lovely lot of mail from Ausy and am awfully delighted. I was very pleased to hear that you all were well and that dear old grannie is on the mend. You all seem terribly worried according to letters you had only got word I have told you in previous letters how dear old Charlie was killed. Mum asked in her letter if Charlie ever regretted coming away. Well Jim not once did he. Many a talk we [had] over all the business and he never regretted it once. Those dear boys were to go but it is awfully hard on us but we must cheer up a little you need not worry over us as I am at the base and Percy is in England. There is some awful heavy fighting going on up the line I wish I was back with my boys. I have had several letters from my captain and the boys wishing that I was back with them. My Captain [Orchard] was the [best] man ever I met and the boys simply worship him. You seem awfully busy over there. Well Jim I hope you have a good harvest. I just received you & mums lovely parcel and I must thank you it is simply beautiful. None of the other boys are here to get the cigs. Well dear Jim this is all the news to night so will close with best love to all.

I remain

Your Loving Brother

Allan

On the day Allan wrote home he was unaware that Percy was crossing the channel, arriving back in France on the same day, perhaps in time to share the cigarettes. Percy’s time in Blighty had come to an end. He left Longbridge Deverill and boarded his ship at Folkestone on 14 August. After some seven months, Allan had a brief opportunity to see his brother at Le Havre before embarking for England; he was on duty but also looking forward to taking some leave to visit his cousins. By 18 August Percy was back with his unit.

From London, Allan wrote to Jim:

Hyde Park Corner S.W.I

21-8-1918

Dear Jim

Just a few lines to let you know that I arrived here safely with the draft but have to take them to Fovant to morrow. I am getting a few days leave so will be going to Leicester this time only about 4 days leave but it will do me. Well Jim old boy we are having glorious weather and I ought to have a nice time to Leicester. I’ll be going to see Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Ted. I have not seen Uncle Ted yet. Well Jim old boy I suppose [you] are awfully busy over there now. I do hope you have a good harvest. They have had record harvests over here. Just before I left France I had a beautiful parcel & a lot of letters from home. I am very pleased you are getting my mail alright. There seems to be a lot of old people dying. Well Jim the war news is splendid now. Our boys are doing well. Just before I left I met Percy he was looking well he was at the base. Yes Jim it is awful loosing those 3 dear boys & I find it awfully hard I do miss them. Yes poor Charlie was killed right out. He never spoke a word. He had a very nice burial & I had put a nice cross over him. In London now there is a big strike on, no buses running at all and I hear that the underground train people are going to strike. It is b- awful. Well Jim old [boy] I might be returning for 6 months shortly. I would like to get home for a few months just see how you all are but I won’t be staying. Well Jim old boy I can’t write anymore. I want to go to bed as I have to get up early in the morning.

Well goodbye Jim old boy and best love to all

I remain Your loving brother

Allan SM

The Alexandra Hotel

London

26-8-1918

Dear Jim

Just a few lines to let you know that I came down from Leicester to night. I had a very nice time indeed. All up there were splendid. I never saw them looking better. Uncle John Wilson was awfully busy with the harvests. They are having record harvests over here so I hope you have the same over there. Well Jim old boy what do you think of the war news now. Isn’t it splendid I think we will have the hun defeated by February. Let us hope so anyway. He is getting an awful towelling up now….

On the same day, Allan penned another letter to Eva Jones:

The Alexandra Hotel

Hyde Park Corner, S.W.I.

London

26-8-1918

Dear Eva

Just a few lines to let you know that I am splendid & sincerely hope that you all are the same. Many thanks for the lovely cake you sent me it was lovely. Well Eva you will see by the above address that I am in Blighty. I brought a draft of men over here and then they gave me a few days leave. I go back tomorrow morning. I spent my leave in Leceister with relatives & had a very nice time. The people over here are having record harvests and are awfully busy as they are not given much time to get them up. Well Eva I suppose you all are pleased with the war news now. I think we will have the rotter beaten by new year, let us hope so anyway. Eva I am always looking for one of those nice long letters of yours and I know there must be one on the water on its way across. Well Eva this is all the news tonight so cheerio and kind regards to all.

I remain

Your old Friend

Allan S

FRANCE, AUGUST

Now recovered from the effects of gas, Joe Stone had returned to his battalion. He wrote to Jim of the emotional impact of being in the line and of his thoughts on ‘catching a bride’ in Scotland:

France

30/8/18

Dear Jim

Just a line in haste hoping it finds all in the Best of health as it leaves me at present. Well Jim you will have to excuse me for not writing before but we have been pretty busy of late as you will have seen by the papers but we are out for a bit of a Breather at present & I can tell you we can do with it a constant going makes ones nerves pretty strung up & the only way is have a good spell. I had a letter from brother Jim the other day he had met Percy in Blighty I hope to be over there in a fortnights time as I have not had Blighty leave for 16 months and it won’t do any harm to see the old place again. I am going to spend part of my leave in Scotland & see if I can leave it without catching a bride. They say it is hard to do. I say Jim how are all those Bonnie Wee Lassies in Mologa getting on. I suppose they are all caught by now. I suppose you will be doing your dash one of these days. I don’t see anything over here that catches my eye so far. They tell me Pearly and Tom have dissolved partnership & she is going with a guy up Pyramid way. Well Jim news are scarce so I will write a longer one when I get Blighty.

I remain

Your Old Cobber

Joe

Remember me to all

The ‘breather’ was not to last. The Australians were ordered to continue to push towards the Hindenburg Line, the 38th taking the village of Curlu on 28 August. On 31 August Monash sent the 2nd and 5th divisions to capture Mont St Quentin and the old moated fortress of Peronne. The 3rd Division was to attack Clery-sur-Somme just a few kilometres to the north-west of Mont St Quentin and then advance to Bouchavesnes Spur. In a fast-moving fight, the under-strength and exhausted but spirited Australian soldiers continued to move forward against enormous odds. By 2 September they had taken Mont St Quentin, an apparently impregnable German stronghold, which had been captured in one of the greatest single feats of the war.

Of the 38th Battalion, Charles Bean wrote:

… the 3^rd Division day after day had forced its way along the slopes and valleys north of the river, seizing Bray, Susanne and Curlu. The staff of the 38^th Battalion, after seventy-one hours continuous work was just settling to sleep when Brig.-General W. R. Nicoll arrived with the order to push on immediately to Clery, at the actual [Somme] river bend; after dark on the 29^th, at the end of eighty-nine hours of almost continuous effort, the battalion reached the eastern edge of that village.⁴

This period of the fighting saw astounding acts of personal bravery with men displaying indomitable courage and inspiring others. Corporal Albert Grinton of Tragowel, Victoria, won the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 31 August 1918, his citation describing his extraordinary pluck:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Clery on 31^st August, 1918. He became detached from his company and joined another party for the advance. Mainly through his assistance with a Lewis Gun, they cleared an enemy trench, killing about thirty men and capturing several machine guns. He got on top of the trench, and, under heavy fire, silenced a field gun which was firing over open sights.⁵

Grinton returned to Australia with his older brother, Jack, to farm on the northern outskirts of Bendigo. Almost 90 years on, when cleaning out a shed on the farm, Jack’s daughter found an old tin with postcards, letters and unexposed film, some 896 photos of the movements of the 38th Battalion during its time on the Western Front. While soldiers were banned from possessing cameras, an offence punishable by court martial, the men always found a way to circumvent the rules. ⁶

It is not clear exactly where Percy was as the Australians pushed forward. From later correspondence it appears that he was with the battalion but not in the front line; he was acting as a guide, responsible for directing troops to their positions in the line. What we do know is that Major Maudsley, the officer who had promised to keep Sarah’s son from harm, had now become a casualty himself, killed by a shell on 31 August during the push to Clery-sur-Somme.

Knowlson Haw.

Other friends and neighbours of the Marlow brothers had also fared badly. Charlie’s mate Knowlson Haw of the 37th Battalion had left the farm at Mologa and had arrived in France in January 1918. He was wounded on 23 August. Archie Bailey of the 7th Battalion was shot in the arm on 9 August in the action at Lihons for which he was awarded the Military Medal; it was the fourth time he had been seriously wounded. Charlie Wales of the 6th Battalion was killed near Lihons on 9 August; he had also been shot the previous September. Gordon Swainston had been shot on 10 August but returned a week later. He was shot again in the hand on 8 September in his final action; he would return to Australia in January 1919.

Most devastating of all was the news that Allan and Percy had lost their close neighbour, family friend and one of their best mates. Lance Corporal David (Les) Townsend had enlisted with Allan and Percy in the 38th Battalion and was a machine-gunner in D Company. He had sailed with the twins on the Runic. At Mologa they had been at school together, played football in the same team and also attended church as members of the congregation of St Luke’s Church of England. Les had fought with the Marlows at Messines and had been wounded at Passchendaele on 4 October in the rush to take the area where Tyne Cot Cemetery now sits. He returned to the front three months later. He was killed by a sniper at Curlu on 28 August.

Allan described Les Townsend as being like a brother. This photo was taken in Bendigo in the same studio in which Allan and Percy had their photos taken prior to embarking.

Letters from the local boys arrived home and appeared in the Pyramid Hill Advertiser. Harry Street, who had cried when leaving Larkhill for France and whose brother Will had been killed, was now an experienced veteran.

Dear Friends,

No doubt you will have heard of Leslie’s death long before you get this letter … The bullet was from a sniper and it hit Les in the centre of the forehead. German machine guns and snipers have a strong outpost and were giving our lads much annoyance. So Leslie’s Company (D) and my own (C) were trying to capture the post or put Fritz out of action, and Leslie probably exposed himself too much and Fritz got him. I was talking to Les just a few minutes before and he was looking very well on it. However, he has had a decent burial. I was there, and his grave is only about two chains from where I am writing this. You have my greatest sympathy in regard to Leslie’s death. He was well liked in his company. We have lost some fine lads lately. We have just finished 7 days of almost continuous fighting and I am almost knocked up. We have driven the Germans a long way back, but I fear peace will not come this year. The weather is fairly fine. I trust that I shall return to good old Aussie safely and give you all the news.

Yours truly,

H STREET

Private Bennett also wrote:

… We had been following up the river for five days. Les was at the right of the advancing troops at the place where he and three others fell. It was a very nasty place to take – steep hills on three sides; the Somme with its low lying, swampy ground, covered with tall reeds and trees; on the other the Huns had a machine gun hidden. I was there a few minutes afterwards and heard what had occurred, but did not see or hear who had fallen. It was a great shock two days afterwards on going round to see how my friends had fared. Les and his mates sleep on a gentle rise overlooking the Somme, only a few hundred yards from where they fell. A wooden cross with name, age and other particulars marks the spot – 29/8/18 in his case. God rest his gallant soul…⁷

Albie Brookes wrote to Les’s parents, telling a poignant tale of comradeship:

… I must express my greatest sympathy in your son Les being killed. Through his death I have lost one of my best pals, and I can assure you that the company to which he belonged, D.Coy., have lost one of the best and bravest of lads. I came away with a great number of the Pyramid lads, as you remember. We were all machine gunners, but on proceeding to France we were split up and put into different companies. For all that, when out of the line, we were always together. Our little crew has gradually got smaller and at the time of poor Les’ death only he and I were with the Batt. It was our custom when coming out of a stunt or trip in the line to look around for each other to see how we had fared, and many were the talks we had of old folks and times at Yarrawalla. Just before we went into the last stunt, I was round congratulating Les, on getting his second stripe, which he had earned months before receiving. The military authorities have notified you, no doubt, and perhaps you have heard from H. Street, but I thought you might like a little detail as to Les’ death. As you know, the tables have turned in our favour lately and we have been pushing the enemy well back, the Australians taking a great part in it. Our Batt. had a rough spin and we were expecting a relief but were required to take a village called Curlu during the day, and A. and B. to follow the next morning. While they were advancing D. Coy. was held up by the enemy with machine gun fire and sniping. It was almost impossible to proceed, so the head of the column, made for the machine gun and Les. being amongst them and always ready to do his bit got sniped through the head. There is little consolation in knowing that the poor fellow suffered no pain, death being instantaneous. I received the news just as we were starting up ourselves and it fair knocked me. We breakfasted at the spot next morning and I learned where Les. had fallen, and immediately made for the spot, but was just too late, which did not make me feel any better for the day’s work. But I was a little more at ease when I learned that the stretcher-bearers had carried him away. After coming out of the trenches I learned where his grave was and visited it. One cross is erected; on same are the words “In memory of Corpl. Les. Townsend, killed in action.”At the time of writing this I am in a pokey dugout, barely room to move, so you will excuse the writing. We are looking for relief, which is expected tonight …⁸

Allan also wrote to the Townsend family:

… I wrote to you immediately after the death of our dear old Les., but have since heard that the mail had gone down, so thought it my duty to write again. Words alone cannot express my greatest sympathy towards you all in the loss of dear old Les., who was killed by a bullet near Curlu in one of our advances on the Bosch. He was killed instantly along with three other boys, and a cross has been erected over his grave. I know exactly how you will miss dear old Les., but believe me no one could miss him more than I do. Les. was always a great friend of mine, but I never knew what a great pal he was until we joined the army. He was just like a brother to me, as we were in camp together, sailed together, and fought together; and I am sorry I was not close to him at the fatal moment. He was a gallant young soldier, always a great pal of everybody in the battalion. Many a great time we spent together, and some very rough ones, but Les. never lost his smile. I don’t think it will be long before we are home, and then I can tell you of some of his good work and our experience together. Dear old Les., who nobly did his bit, lost his life in the hour of a great struggle, in fighting for King and Country. In your sad loss I convey to you the deepest sympathy of all the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the battalion …

The battle for Mont St Quentin had cost the community around Mologa dearly. Australian forces had suffered another 3000 casualties.⁹ The numbers of Australians left to fight on the Western Front were rapidly diminishing. The battalions were now at one-fifth of their full strength.

SEPTEMBER 1918
FRANCE

Allan had enjoyed his short period of leave in England, spending time with relatives and relishing the opportunity to experience some normality away from the front. He returned to Le Havre on 7 September. The following day he wrote home to reassure his brother that, while Percy was in France with the battalion, he was not in danger:

Sunday 8-9-18

Dear Jim

Just a few lines to let you know that I am splendid & do hope that you all are the same. Percy is also ok. Just before I went to England I met Percy and he was going up the line. Well I had a letter from him today and he is away back out [of] the fighting. The adj and Major said if he came back they would keep him out of it so everything [is] ok. Well Jim I got back from England alright and had a very nice time. I wrote you a lot of letters from England and told you about my trip in Leicester. Well when I got back from Leicester I went to Headquarters and they gave me another 4 days leave. Mr Gollan was always wanting me to go and see his friend in Scotland and they have wrote and asked me to go at several times so I spent the few days with them and I had a glorious time. They [are] bonnie people and so awfully good. I will enclose some little snaps they gave so Jim will you keep them until I get back. Well old boy what do you think of the war news now. Aint it glorious but we are losing a lot of men. Jim I am not a bit surprised at what you say about the certain class. I am absolutely full up of them. They are disgraceful. When I got back from England there were 35 letters waiting for me. What a treat what letters from everybody. I got 2 very nice letters of sympathy from Mrs Braddish. I generally get a letter or two every mail from Eileen. Yes old boy I know how you all feel about 3 dear boys. I feel just [the] same but as you know Jim we must keep going. I believe now that poor old Les Townsend is killed it is awful. But don’t say anything until you [have] heard definitely. No doubt you are all very busy but perhaps the days will come when I will be back to give a hand. Fancy Bill Johnson getting married and Edgar Saville, oh well…

I am sending home a couple of little parcels of things that I collected off the battle field some time ago. Well Jim old boy this is all the news so will close with best love to all.

I remain

Your Loving Brother

Allan

THE RACE TO THE HINDENBURG LINE

German forces continued their retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the old British trenches which faced it. The Allies pursued the German soldiers with speed and vengeance; villages burned while bridges and roads were destroyed in the retreat. The Australians, in desperate need of rest, were instead to be thrust against the final bastion of German defence, an extensive three-trench system some six kilometres deep, fortified by barbed wire and machine-guns and built along the deep St Quentin Canal.

The men were exhausted. The lack of reinforcements on the front necessitated lengthy stays holding recaptured ground often subjected to repeated counter-attack. The Australian casualty rate in proportion to their numbers was higher than that of any other units of the British Empire. They had been consistently thrown into the most costly battles. Others were spurred on by their successes. The ominous Hindenburg Line loomed as Monash sent the 3rd, 5th and British 23rd divisions to clear the villages and German outposts close to the old British trenches.¹⁰ On 18 September a total of ten divisions, including the 1st and 4th Australian and a number of British and American divisions, finally pushed through, taking over 12,000 German prisoners. The two Australian divisions took 4300 of these alone.¹¹

Allan wrote to Jim, but with obvious signs of frustration as he answered queries over missing letters and his missive home to inform his parents that they had lost another son. Dealing with a lack of understanding and sense of criticism delivered from the safety of Australia was difficult and Allan made sure his brother knew exactly how he felt.

Sunday

France

22-9-18

Dear Jim

I have just returned from church parade so I think I will drop you a few lines. I received about 12 letters from Ausy yesterday 2 from home 1 each from Mrs & M Stone one each from Eva & Elsie Jones one each from Nell Sherlock & M Gamble. I was very pleased to hear that you are all well and that you are getting the letters alright you said in your letters that it was 7 weeks since I wrote well I write every week and if you don’t get [them] that is not my fault. You say you don’t know how poor Charlie could have got shot. Well Jim you have no idea what the game is like or of what conditions or circumstances we have to fight against. It is quite possible for anyone to be killed with a bullet at any time when poor Charlie was killed certainly he was in a trench it was only shallow though and he put his head up and a sniper got him through the top part of the nose and it went into his head. He died instantly. You said Mum was disappointed with my letter, well that was the morning it occurred that I wrote and you ought to know how it affected me. I wrote the next day and told you all about it. Well Jim it is raining like billy o today. The winter is beginning to creep in on us but I don’t think it will be like the 1916 one anyway I hope not. I never want to witness another one like that one. I am glad there is every indication of a good harvest. Well Jim what do you think of the war news now. Aint the b- hun getting hell and that is nothing to what he will get directly. I think we ought to be home Xmas 12 months. Let us hope so anyway. The way the RC are behaving is absolutely rotten. Mrs Stone gave me the full strength of it all. Well Jim I will say cheerio for the present and best love to all.

I remain

Your Loving Bro

Allan SM

Postcard of North Inch and Boating Station Perth [Scotland]

France

Sunday

22-9-19

My Dear Mum,

I have written already this morning I have just come from Church parade and we had a very nice service. It is raining like billy o. These two bits of paper don’t look much but will be able to tell a good half day story about the one written in pencil. SO please keep them till I get back. I have lots of little things like these.

I remain your loving son

Allan XXXX

Postcard Tay Street, Perth

France

24-9-18

Dear Jim

Just received a letter from Percy he is splendid and away back out of the line. So there is no need to worry. Poor old Les Townsend has been killed and I feel awfully sorry. Have written to Mrs Townsend & Rene. Well old boy no news as I wrote on Sunday so cheerio and best love to all

Loving Bro

Allan

All along the Western Front, German troops were retreating. To the north of the Somme, the British and Belgian forces were attacking towards Ghent. Passchendaele had been reclaimed. To the south, American, French and British troops were advancing. Monash and his Australians were to take the line at Bellicourt, east of Peronne, although there were few Australians left to complete the task. The battalions had been decimated by enormous casualties and, for the first time, original Anzac troops were being granted two months’ leave to return to their families in Australia. Some of the most experienced and courageous men were at last going home for a brief period of respite that had always been available to British and French soldiers but not to the distant dominion troops. With the strength of the battalions severely compromised, seven of the Australian battalions were scheduled to be disbanded to form reinforcements for their sister battalions. In the 10th Brigade, the 37th Battalion was ordered to disband. The troops refused, as they did in other battalions and, on their last parade, stubbornly declined to complete the order to move off to their new battalions. Instead, for several days they continued their routine duties without their officers.¹²

This was effectively a mutiny but no Australian soldiers were punished. This was not about refusing to fight. There was no mass uprising. These battle-weary troops simply sought to preserve the identity under which they had fought and lived — their battalion name and their colours. Monash chose not to punish the dissidents in his army of volunteer citizen soldiers.

On 29 September American forces advanced on the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt. Once their objectives had been reached, the troops of the Australian 3rd and 5th divisions were to leap-frog the Americans. But the inexperienced Americans were no match for the defenders of the mighty Hindenburg Line and took heavy casualties. Australian troops moved in and, over two days of bitter fighting in freezing rain, they pushed forward.

On the same day, 29 September, at the age of 40, father of eight and Military Medal winner Jack McDonald was shot in the neck. He returned to Pyramid Hill but passed away just two years later from lung disease, a result of the effects of an earlier gas attack.

OCTOBER

On 1 October the 3rd Division seized the village of Bony. The Australian infantry had captured the first and second trench systems on their front.¹³ The 2nd Division moved in to relieve the remaining men of the 1st and 3rd. The Hindenburg Line was crumbling. The final line was breached on 3 October. Two days later, after the 2nd Division captured the village of Montbrehain, the last of the Australian battalions was withdrawn and replaced by American units. Since 8 August the ‘diggers’ had been continuously in the line for two months. They had advanced some 50 kilometres, liberated scores of villages and taken thousands of prisoners. The cost was heavy; close to 27,000 Australian soldiers had been killed or wounded.¹⁴ There were few reinforcements. The Australian forces were almost spent.

Percy wrote to Jim from behind the line. It seems there was now some concern within the family over Charlie’s will and estate. Over the next few months the concerns would escalate, perhaps fuelled by rumours circulated by a meddling relative. Fortunately, later letters reveal that the rift had been healed.

In the Field

1-10-18

Dear Jim

Well Jim how are things going, I have received several letters from you lately, which I was very pleased to get, and glad to hear you are well. I am not with the Batt at present, at a Reinforcement Wing, behind the line not a great way from the line. I think I told you in my last letter Les Townsend was killed. He was shot through the head, it was stiff luck, he was so game. It has been very cold weather lately, and a little rain on and off. I got that little slip of paper, with the inquiry, I was surprised Jim. Very nice isn’t it what [is] going on at 208 Barnard St, if the little kiddie got it instead of her, it would be allright, she [is] not entitled to a penny. Heard from Allan the other day, he was still at the Base, and going on well. So you have a piano in the house now Jim, it will make you feel quite young again Jim. Fritz comes over here bombing at times. Well Jim, it ought to soon be over now, by the way things are going, they are knocking old Fritz about now. Yes, Uwen Johnson has had his share of wounds, I believe this last one was pretty bad, his wife was over to see him. Albert Brookes was going strong last time I saw him. I met Tom Alford not long ago, he looked real well also Amos Haw, he was going to Blighty to the I.B. for six months. Well Jim I must close, hoping [this] finds you all well

I am your loving brother

Percy

A week later, Allan wrote to Jim:

Monday

7-10-18

Dear Jim

Just a few lines to let you know that I am [well] & hope that you all are the same. We are just dwelling on a big Ausy mail which ought to reach us today or tomorrow. I can tell you we do look forward for these. Well Jim old boy it is raining like hell again and things are now beginning to feel a bit chilly but I don’t think it will be a severe winter. Poor old Les Townsend has been killed alright and I have written to his people and told them everything I could find out about him. It will be a terrible shock to his people. He was a good soldier and well liked. Col. Henderson has also been killed.¹⁵ He was a gallant leader of men and holds a high reputation over here. Well Jim old boy I suppose you are up to your neck in work as the harvest must be coming on now. I hope it turns out successful. Well old boy cheerio for the present.

Your loving Brother

Allan

As Percy wrote to Jim, the end of the war was closer than either man realised. The Central Powers were now faltering in all the theatres of war. In Flanders to the north, along the Somme and to the south at Verdun, the Allies continued their rapid advance to the east. Bulgaria and Turkey were defeated and Austria-Hungary was soon to seek peace. The German fleet mutinied on 29 October. On the home front Germany was on the verge of revolution. The people were hungry. They were desperate for an end to the relentless slaughter.

Percy wrote to reassure Jim that he would not have to return to front-line duties:

In the Field

22.10.18

Dear Jim

… Well I am going good, we are out of the line just now, for a little time. I was very sorry to hear Mother was not well, she needs a good spell away. Myrtle is still with you Jim, you are set now. I had a letter from Allan, he was going good at the Base got a good job, it will last till the shoot is over from what I hear. Its been a bit cold lately, of course we must expect it now, its getting late in the year. I am at present a guide at a station, for men coming in, its not a bad stunt, I sleep in a little hut every second night on the station, with some English chaps, that are on the station duty we have a fire and it is “bon”. I tell you I am kept busy writing, get a lot of letters from the relations in England. Well Jim, its drawing near Xmas, I can see another one in France, I would like to get to Blighty for Xmas, the last two have been here. Well Jim, I will not have to go in the line again, might be close to it, for the wing move up when the Battalions are in, but one would be very stiff if he got hit then.

Well Old boy Must close now

With love To all

I am your loving brother

Percy

Jim’s mate, Tom Alford, wrote after enjoying some leave in England. He was as frank and laconic as ever:

France

October 23^rd 16

Dear Jimmy

Just a line in answer to your welcome letter dated July 14^th & I think I had another one written out at the bush since I last wrote. I was pleased to hear from you again. I don’t get so many letters now I expect because I’ve dropped most of my correspondence. I know Jim it must be very galling to you the way a certain crowd are carrying on out their but buggar them. One will know what to do when the next war is on. A friend of mine who lives in a suburb of Melbourne had a letter from his mother & she wanted to know of him: How it was that all the lads of that place who were returning were all the wasters etc. By what I can make of it the bigger lead-swinger & bloody nuisance you make of yourself the better you get on in the Army. Not that I’ve anything to go crook about but by just what you see. Well since I last wrote I’ve had fourteen days leave in England. Had a real ding-dong time. Went to Wales. Stayed in Cardiff & Aberdare. Got in with some real good people in the latter place & they couldn’t do enough for us. There were not many Aussies in the place so people used to get us off a bit. Talk about sitters you could catch a different one every hour of the day. Of course you know I don’t bother the fair sex much. Had a night in Bristol & finished up with a few days in London. I had a real little Beauty in London. Saw Joe Stone in London & Jimmy in Boulougne on his way back. Jim had a bullet through his chin. It will be nice for you all to have Myrtle over with you for a while. Well we are out having our long promised spell but we are in a very quiet place. Yesterday I had leave to Abbeyville for the day. There is really nothing to see but you seem to be your own boss for the day. Well this is all this time so will conclude by wishing you all a Happy Xmas & trusting you are all well with kind regards to Ma & Dad from your old Pal Tom