Letters from Robert James Henderson, January - June 1917 - Part 13

wonderful time in England. Had
quite a good trip across stayed
a Etaples 3 days then came straight
on here This place last August was
only about 4 miles behind the line
it being shelled like fun by the Hun
now it is about 25 miles behind and
quite safe Got a great reception on
arriving here first night at dinner
health was drunk speech from the
Colonel and of course a fitting reply
I hope from myself said they had
heard all about my times in London
and wanted to hear about some of
my experiences assured them all it
was too early in the evening and
I had not had enough to drink
of course I saw nearly all our officers
in London some of and flew around
with them while they were on leave
some bonza times we had too  Am
still with A Coy 2^nd in command to
Major Murray V.C. D.S.O. DC.17. some man
to fight with what do you think
He is going across to England any
day now to receive his. V.C. honour from 

cousin George so that this chicken will
be busy running the Coy during his
absence. Have been busy with a
musketry team from the battalion who
are shooting in a brigade and divisional
competition next Tuesday so that I
have not done any work with the
Coy yet in fact it is such a
long time since I have done any
that I have about forgotten how to
Do not expect to be in action for
about another month but one never
knows reinforcements are coming along
quickly the battalion getting up to
decent strength again now but suppose
it will be the same old story when
the next stunt comes off.  Was up
at 5.30 am this morning putting the
musketry team through some firing
practice so have been excused from
Church parade consequently am trying
to get my corespondences up to date
Am off for a ride this afternoon any 

old where the whole country is starting
to look well again young leaves on
the trees the sun shining this is
a beautiful place in Spring weather
it has been quite warm for the
past couple of days but expect some
more cold weather yet We played
the 15^th Battn rugby union football
yesterday afternoon and won by 3 to
nil the game was rough and fast
unfortunately one of our officers Darcy
Irving broke his leg it was indeed
bad luck well old kid write
again when you get time  trust
you club your exam all right
lots of love to all Bob
6/5/17
Have just dropped a line to Nana
expect he is all right have not
heard from him for some time
expect he is too busy with exams
and the Cambridge lasses to say
nothing of the London ones when he
gets there on leave 

France
13.5.17

My dear Mum
Am feeling tip top and
working very hard reorganising etc
We are moving in a couple of days
now for another part of France
and will be attached to the 2^nd
Anzac Corps that is the 4^th Div only
it may only be temporary  Had a
big day yesterday the whole Div.
parading inspection & giving out of medals
etc by Gen. Birdwood who also said
nice things about us all & wished
us all good luck. seems the higher
commands want the 4^th Div for some
special job.  they certainly have done
excellent work right throughout however
sufficient unto the day you know.
Major Murray has now a bar to his
D.S.O. and is off to England any day 

now so I shall be very busy running
A Coy during his absence  Had quite a
good social afternoon a couple of days
ago a place a little distance from here
has a great tea room for officers only
The Brigadier arranged to take the whole
show for the afternoon and wanted all
the 4^th Brigade officers to turn up and
meet one another etc etc we had tea
and many other drinks of all descriptions
the 16^th Battn band a nice bright afternoon
and some charming Fr young French girls
to look after us it was great bringing
all together I met chaps I had not
seen for months from the other battalions in
the Brigade The 13^th Battn officers have
arranged another little stunt there this
afternoon Major Twyman and about 15 of us
and driving in a G.S waggon with 4 mules
in hand but also taking our band down
having afternoon tea etc expect to have a bit
of fun the 4 mules rope reins and G.S. waggon
loaded with a bunch of us should be funny
Had a good swim in the river close by
yesterday evening took some soap & had a
good clean up which no doubt was required
the water is very cold which does not allow
me to stay in long. This morning I got a
chap to cut my hair so have been having
a regular spring cleaning and feel much
better for it all. M^cDowall our bombing officer
_^ & self had a great little supper last night in
his billet zero time was 11.P.M. we made a
parcel he had sent to him from England look very 

small, sausages, ginger bread tinned pineapple
when we were about finished the
doctor walked in so that we had to
start all over again with him however
have felt no ill effects this morning
M^cDowall is a great chap he comes
from Dorrigo knows Roy Blair & Jack Edgley
well bye the bye I met Jack the other
day and had a long yarn to him
he is a major now and looks splendid
his battalion are is billeted not very far
from us shall possibly see him quite
a lot Had a letter from Nana the
other day shall enclose it in case you
have not heard from him he seems
to be doing quite OK Shall write
again soon lots of love to all Boby  

France
27^th May 17
Dear Mick.
Received the following letters in
good order and condition from home 3 from
Mum 27^th Feb  25^th March  18^th March one from Jane
1^st April one from Lorna 31^st March one from
yourself 26^th March and all very nice to believe
me. Still going strong and feeling OK am
very busy being in command of A Coy Harry
Murray having gone on leave to England
for 20 days He will not be back in time
for the next stunt which comes off shortly
now so that this poor chicken will have
all the responsibility and worry of a
Coy commander in action however expect we
shall all do our bit all right. Had a
lovely young route march this morning we
were to have had a church parade but
it was cancelled and Coys independently
went for a bath  Baths are rather
scarce at present so that we take 

every opportunity to getting the boys a good
wash even if it breaks into the Sabbath
Church arrangements. We left at 7.30 am
and marched 4½ miles to the baths then
of course 4½ back I was mounted so did
not feel the walk at all it was a
glorious morning and the road we took
passed through lovely green fields trees
hedges etc Mum would have doted the
whole country is simply lovely now and
the weather perfect quite hot in the sun
which shines strongly everyday and more
or less seems to keep going half the night
it is quite light at 9.45 PM. On arrival
back to my billet about 10.30 am feeling
dusty etc was about half undressed when
our Brigadier walked in he is a great
sort wanted to know how we were etc etc
sat down had a long yarn I played
the part of host and gave him a cup
of coffee and a nugget of bread and butter
the larder being empty of biscuits etc.
The Coy mess felt quite honoured th at
entertaining the Brig although he got little
and just had to put up with what was
going like the rest of us. I rode down
to D. Coy officers mess who invited me with
me to dinner to day and very nice too
soup chicken plum pudding champagne etc
then Capt Henry of B Coy called to see us at ACoy 

mess and stayed for afternoon ^tea so that the
Sabbath has been calling day all right
about the only day in the week one
has any time to see and have ^a yarn
with other officers of the battalion when Coys
are billeted so far away from one another
each Coy is run as a young battalion in its own.
We have another big boxing contest coming
off next Tuesday evening the N. Zealanders
want to have a go at us  this is the
first time we have been together since the
peninsular & Egypt am enclosing the programe.
Congrats old thing am terribly pleased to hear
you clubbed your final hot stuff now L.L.B
you might save a job for me as office boy or
something like that Think the leg is quite
OK too having done some very long marches
& strenuous work with no ill effects resulting.
No doubt I am sure not in my opinion
about the war but am hoping the darned
show will finish this year. Do not worry
about coming over the family is well
represented besides you will be wanted at home.

to look after Mother & Father. Tell Jane to write
and tell her little brother what is doing shall
have to interview young [[A?]] for her. Saw Daddy-
Long-Legs played in London and enjoyed it
immensely in fact one of the best I saw also
read the book which was great while in hospital.
Thanks so much for the financial statement
see I still have a little left but if any
more trips like the last eventuate it will not
go far.  left a balance of £5 in the Bank
N.S.W. London and my pay book is £3
overdrawn so that if I go to London
again it is a cert that I shall require
more money across have worn out all my
clothes etc however sufficient unto the day etc.
Well kid I could ramble on but
am a very busy man and have many
other letters to write.  lots of love to all
Boby
Expect to be in action before the 10^th June.
Have not heard from Nana for some time
expect he is still in England and having a
good time generally.