Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1918 - Part 1

France
6.1.18
My dear Mum
No news just a
line to let you know I am
quite all right & still going strong.
It is very cold of course plenty
of snow and cold winds yet it
does not affect me one simply
growls & swears and cold feet
hands & ears all day & night
to. We expect to move away
from here any day now and
no doubt shall be having
another crack very shortly. Do
not know what has gone wrong
with the Aust. mail we have
had no letters for six weeks
& the Xmas parcels I expect
are still kicking around some
of the wharves. however if lucky

we may receive them eventually.
Have just received a large
bundle of English papers from
Hope so shall have a good
old read tonight. Went to a
most interesting lecture last night
at a Corp Head Quarters
Cannot tell you the subject but
it was very fine given by a
civilian probably something to do
with the Secret Service but for
flow & command of the English
language I have never heard
anything to touch him. Sat on
a chair for 1 hour & a half
never once repeated himself
& never had a note it was
indeed the finest lecture I
have ever heard. Have not seen
Nana yet. having had no
opportunity however expect to see
him shortly lots of love to all
Bob.

France
13.1.18
My dear Mum
Just received a lovely
large mail letters dated Nov 5^th Oct 29^th
Oct 22^nd one from Lorna 29^th Oct also
three bosca parcels which were simply
great also received a large tin of
Creamy Chock biscuits from Snow Arrnott
they were most acceptable Am enclosing
some snaps of some of the Battn
officers taken at our last camp
in the forward area just behind
the line about Xmas time some
of them are quite good. have
written some particulars on the
back of them Am very busy tonight
doing some work so shall
have to defer answering your
letters for the present Will have

another shot as soon as possible
Hope you receive these photos OK
lots of love to all Bob.

France
14.1.18
Dear old Mick
Will write to you
this time for a change wrote
a few lines to Mum last night
enclosing a few snaps which will
interest you all but had a
lot of work to do which
prevented me from carrying on
however shall have another go
tonight. First of all what is
all this I hear about Nana
being wounded again there
must be some mistake he
is at present in the front
line one of our officers was
up there to-day & saw him
hale & hearty had a yarn to
him I was going up tomorrow

myself for a preliminary reconnaisence
tomorrow and would have seen
him but have to send another
officer now as Gen Birtles is
coming around & of course OC
Company have to be here
however hope to get away
the next day and shall
look him up and shall
try & get a cable through
to you. fancy the military
have must have made another
bull. It is quite possible we
shall be releiving his brigade
in the line & they will come
where we are at present  "in
out in out on guard" style
you know but of course you
dont know that expression
comes in bayonet fighting.
Had quite a good time last

Sunday after Church parade Bomb
Wells Edgar Moseley & self rode
into a good sized town not
far from here We had an
excellent lunch several whiskies
& sodas a good bottle of the
Vive Clinquot 1906 vintage after
which a roam around the
town shopping etc. these little
outings just about save one's
bacon especially this rotten cold
weather If lucky enough to get
through this next show shall
be about due for leave again
I could also get 8 days leave
to Paris but cannot stand the
strain one would need at least
£50 for 8 days in Paris &
London is very little better
so that to do justice to
ones self in both places
P.T.O.

in 6 months would be too big a
drain on a limited amount of money.
Bye the bye Mick would be glad
if you will let me know how
finances stand have only about
£40 in the bank London and
may require to get some more
across expect I still have a few
quid left over in Aussi. Tell
Mum the sheet of paper & envelope
arrive safely in each letter but we
are very seldom short of writing
pads so that I seldom use it
for writing letters. The couple of snaps
Mum sent across are great I think
who took them Avis appears to be
growing into a fine girl Tell Lorna
I received her letter 28^th Oct quite all
right am not writing to her I know
she reads all the ones that go
home or should do Cheer Oh for
present lots of love to all
Bob
1 DRL 345

13^TH BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
27.1.18
My dear Jane
Have just received your
letter dated 25^th Nov. also a card from
Mrs S. J. Bull & family while in my
little dug-out in the front line. Had
a bit of fun last night the heads
being very keen to get a Fritz for
identification purposes on this front of
course the competition was keen especially
as there is a special 14 days leave
hanging to it One of my Corporals while
out on patrol had the luck to shoot
one & of course brought back his
coat containing papers pay book
etc etc it was most interesting going
through all his stuff which I have
no doubt shall be of the greatest

value to Div. Corp etc such things
that were no use to us such as
2 mark notes etc were given back
to the Corporal the regiment he belonged
to had apparently just come from
the Russian front for he had several
photos of Germans & Russians fratenizing
what do you think of that. Of
course another feather in the Battn
cap getting this information etc without
an organized raid which was
in hand. great fun these little
stunts although risky. So M^rs Davies
has been saying all sorts of
nice things about me eh of course
she could hardly do otherwise
to be polite could she Yes I
knew all about Teddie Cornish
he has now transfered to the
Flying Corp and no doubt will