Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1918 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2016.30.6
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

13TF BATTALION, A.I.F. FRANCE. datid Lorna from letters Received fam. also one from te 24 Dec. and very nice they Jane 30 Glad you received the Blotter were all woudderful. Tango are. some there Of of Libertiye Tame would that shop place but of in simply dote on the terrible. lt a course you want And one like money the things prices. Fanery young impossible. fany writing me that note kid cannot mngue the dear up. shall write a focd to Growing her. one is apt to lard it simply flies time frger
years nors away nearly have blen Geall longer much how wondler hope she is a nice you dote on apaid she is madly in lone kill nothing is thire but mi with likely to marry am not doing the this side on Anyour shall Meek till world for him. She r Reserve sends me. all writes regularly is papers ete so the English in her take very good Shall arrund when ply A Goold cleave yet things are dems in a ter Leverport in very tame beeing Ponks London. Faney old.
a incerined ton with a Rown now I must be getting old family HOIAATGRS shall very soon be, on afraid shilf the trouble is to up the shilf vver here one on the could get married every day the week and twise on in Sundays but apand I am getting too old in the ns to be caught still it all very enteresting and very furing at tines. We hope to bring Mr competitions in frotball 6 iing musketing it this time so that everyone is out course all very busy is [t intermingled with the Mevryaniz ahian st much treining to have time yet we find good bridge many gares had some good in the evening gunce wh in th hine the time at B.H.G. who were some 300 yds behind the frint line it is dead furing when you it shelling to think lome burting ite do not distrat one in the least afraid if me gits home after this show it will appear as a hage dreams jrust this year will see it out although to my no indication mind there tone to all lo date fat another Bob Nave is all right, away them school no cuns to live at
O.C. A by. Headquarters 13th Battalion, A.L.F. 19th February, 1918. Os. C. ALL COMPANIES. H.Q. OFFICERS. CCAAEDCDOD -00 The undermentioned Code names will be used during the forthcoming tour of duty in the line; - C.O. Al SBA Capt.R.H. BROWNING M.C. PTERROT CaptSA.W. DAVIS M.C. THE BOY E.E. HUCKMETT SOCR B. BLYTHIAN Lt. GROWLER H9 Lt. L.W.HE CLLLAND SPY Lt H.B. DAVLS WuII Ltf J.D. WESTWOOD, M.C. BUBELY LtS T. WHITE BLANC Lt: G.F. FMKTMER, M.M. BUELER Capt.R.J. HENDERSON,M.C. 216 Lt- G. MAREER 246 aen e ete Aly Lts J.G. CEARI SCHOOLS Lt. H.S. BAKER DOUGHNUT Lt. C.T. KELARER FAT Caft. E. MOTLLRY CARMIMETTA Lieut B.C.J. ROSE, M.C.,D.C.M. PANSEY ply Lieut.E.A. HALL HAT RACK Lieut.H.B. BROWN,D.C.M., M.M. MINN Lieutfy.H. EAST MRDDIN Lt. HK. NOLAN TLUFT Lt. J. O.M.JOLE CINDERELLA Capt. J. TOHNSTONE VALENTTHE g en Lts A.S. THOMSON BRLLLLANT Lts C.LS LUSCOMBL LOVE Lt. H. SIMPSON BULLY Capt. R.A. MCKLLLOP OANN l Capt. N. WALLACR N.C. DAG Lt. C. DPARCY-IRYTHE. SONSM Lieut. G.J. SMITH CARRLER LieutSA.B. LLLLEY FAIRY en Capt. take Adjutant, 13th Battalion, A.L.P,/.) wch ths ffain the ate live 3th o the aet an Munrs o sove dl flth Ler
137F BATTALION, A.1.F. FRANCE. 78 March Mum diar My letter your received emple th flin a. dated out ar still ago. De day 5 to expect but lure the ww very shortly Again en be hime shall think not leave do my et to luck the expected is Frity an 2 going before any attack bey a launch to are we that To now time
An up Ritsh to be Dut for corp flying the to giveing the erin he sime time days 3 it wont experience for future plent shell have be great a doubt on and flying 0 chape live these time ripping doting on St Am lils like he to fowward looking and Shall tell very much experience later about you all for sime Mana seen Have not another at Away as 5 he about hae lasts which one School been only have. weeks Combine 5 May 5 Frence School LOMI
ago was about 12 a that still it as a good job am nott this setle very nso schols on I would like too go to only ones 33HAA7 would be Aldershot or Haling Had a big Island in England. Brigade show yesterdlay. Church first then presentation parade 117 17E29 millals of reblins by You Biisnowd after which a march past it was an excellend show the weather glorious everyone out well it must have turned great sight for an a been we were congratulatedy on looker show. We are having the on delightful weatter now the most few days heve just been last spring nice warm Ansterlian like atmaphire yeclerding sun clear + a was alvened, an howr time thy daylight business you know exten as if the the eventer is about looks an early summer setting which will always do me X done atthough this wrnter has not ben to in bad in France much better than I expected. Wope you received the shaps I sent home of the snow about xms & new year. Dos Wallack & self event for a great ride yesterday afternoon ended up in a good sized town had a topking dinner some oysters champague and some from with the Frunch lasses my things are different on this side of the world am afsaid the Aushraban people, would be very what goes on Aus feeling pretty well Mano do not know whether shocked as I got rill of all that gas yet still there to no chance of getting away as long as a fellow can carry on. Iby commanding are arthur valuable blings and of course the longer at it the more valuable you aways when C.0 As not like lettirg is anything doing and there always to be something expected all corts of them tange expected enortly the wind is well & truly vertient Se Ct. o lve wall Rob
My dun for the which home was card took at contents its on intacl the in from the there in which 13TF BATTALION. A.I.F. FRANCE. 18 9th Murch Iam much To Ever Thanks from parcel very nice yesterday your arrived 3o that to Yee (4 dated reach me to time some all and of were everyone same. Doy the parcel A Batter- received you know comforts fund. all bices cardbourd the apprecicted. much very were
fort 2 Rugly great We had by all. last against the 15th Battn bull match just hard and which was Saturllag so that nixt blues won the two for play them again we Saturday competition Brigalle the final another cup the have to espect we And also play the we crittit our to final in the fr th tomorrow no doubt 16 lbet and game then associal win to cup that grat shull to come we boicing more some 13 all ther mutches rifle sime also for this ourselves like at beating which some takes N.3. W. Buttn me. Look bellive thing old Some any photos in for our itc the out Anzac Bulliten papers all a the us photographer took official petiers they few days ago but which
will be reproduced in I cannot say Had a great day out last Sunday The Pay (Ros wallack) the Doc (Mapor Cring Misbouan man) & self. we seuared the C.O. to 304A5 off church paride set out on allow us our horses about 10 am and had a regular pound trep completing in all about 40 miles visited several new tons of some size where I shad not been I cannot mention the before unforlumately or say much about them names of them censorship regulations we on account good from with the talh plenty gooll find good champign Funch lasses up and all the nt of it endic to sie Humph Browning by callingin is doing splendedly now I am who danger of happy to say and is out he will probably get a although wants it. Had home if he trips from last night came in great sime truching the boys 9-30 pr after about tim the 3 dark with to do wiring om masks on itc and sut down to supper we have sometting every night in our billit last night stewed rabbit potatoes cocal & whisking very mice to having supped well and got my orders out for to -day turnedt in to read some papers Hopes affert Falller London Opinion Passivg Show Bystander etc. Well I was meely tucked in with a wice clam pair of pymfis the inivitable pernicious weed in the month when in walked one of our officers dused in womans clothes in compliny with Ttench gurl or Belgii rether drind his unform my word she looked. a fine also our chep did up splendide in f bid out of course they draged me pain of top put an overcoat on a pots we all then went around and visited all the several officers course it it was splendled from meant a wad at each place also you should have seen the pardes face when we went in to his

13TH BATTALION, 
A.I.F. 
FRANCE.
(5).  
Received letters from Lorna dated 
24th Dec & 6th Jan. also one from 
Jane 30th Dec. and very nice they 
all were. Glad you received the Blotter 
ok there are some wonderful things 
in that shop of Liberty's Jane would 
simply dote on the place but of 
course you want a terrible lot 
of money the things one likes are 
impossible prices. Fancy young 
Janey writing me that note 
cannot imagine the dear kid 
growing up. Shall write a Post 
card to her. one is apt to 
forget time it simply flies

 

(6) 
have been away nearly 3 years now 
I wonder how much longer. Glad 
you dote on Hope she is a nice 
kid afraid she is madly in love 
with me but there is nothing 
doing am not likely to marry 
anyone on this side of the 
world tell Mick I shall 
reserve her for him. She 
writes regularly sends me all 
the English papers etc so is 
very good shall take her for 
a good fly around when 
across on leave yet things are 
very tame in Liverpool after 
London. Fancy old "Ponko" being

 

down a married man with a 
family now I must be getting old.
afraid I shall very soon be on
the shelf the trouble is to keep
on the shelf over here one
could get married every day
in the week and twice on
Sunday's but afraid I am
getting too old in the nut
to be caught still it is all
very interesting and very funny
at times. We hope to bring
off our competitions in football
boxing musketry etc this time
out so that everyone is
very busy of course all
this is b intermingled with
much training reorganization etc
yet we find time to have
many games of good bridge
in the evening had some good
games while in the line this
time at B.H.Q. who were some
300yds behind the front line
it is dead funny when you
come to think of it shells
bursting etc do not disturb
one in the least afraid
if one gets home after this
show it will appear as a
huge dream. Trust this year
will see it out although to my
mind there is no indication
to date. lots of love to all
Nana is all right away at another
school he seems to live at them.
Bob.

 

Headquarters,
13th Battalion, A.I.F.,
19th February, 1918.

Os. C. ALL COMPANIES.
H.Q.OFFICERS. 
-------------------------------
The undermentioned Code names will be used during the
forthcoming tour of duty in the line:-
C.O.                                       ..         ..       ALI BABA}
Capt.R.H.BROWNING, M.C.                PIERROT}
Capt.A.W.DAVIS,           M.C.                THE BOY}
  "       E.E.PLUCKNETT   .   .                   SOCKS}
Lt. B. BLYTHMAN                                   GROWLER}         HQ
Lt.L.W.H. CLELAND                                SPY}
Lt.H.B. DAVIS                                           ARLETTE}
Lt. J.D. WESTWOOD,     M.C.                 BUBBLY}
Lt. T. WHITE                       .   .                  BLANC}
Lt. G.F. FALKINER,            M.M.              BUZZER}
Capt. R.J. HENDERSON,  M.C.              ZIG}
Lt. G. MARPER                                          ZAG}
Lt. J.G. GEARY                                           SCHOOLS}   ACoy
Lt. H.S.BAKER                                           DOUGHNUT}
Lt. C.J. KELAHER                                      FAT}→This man weighs about 18 stone
Capt. E. MOSELEY                                    CARMINETTA}
Lieut. B.C.J.ROSE,  M.C., D.C.M.            PANSEY}
Lieut. E.A.HALL          .  .   .   .                   HAT RACK}   BCoy
Lieut. H.B.BROWN, D.C.M., M.M.         KHAKI}
Lieut. J.H. EAST          .  .     .   .                 ALADDIN}
Lt. M.K. NOLAN                                        FLUFF}
Lt. J.O'M. JONES                                      CINDERELLA}
Capt. J. JOHNSTONE                             VALENTINE}      CCoy
Lt. A.S. THOMSON                                  BRILLIANT}
Lt. C.L. LUSCOMBE                                 LOVE}
Lt. H. SIMPSON                                         BULLY}
Capt. R.A. MC'KILLOP                              SNAPSHOT}
Capt. N. WALLACH    M.C.                       DAG}
Lt. C. D'ARCY-IRVINE   .  .                         GOSSIP}      DCoy
Lieut. G.J. SMITH                                       CARRIER}
Lieut. A.B. LILLEY                                       FAIRY}
           .     .      .    
Adjutant, 13th Battalion, A.I.F. Capt.
D.C.A.Coy.
Of course this does not take in
all our officers some on leave
some left out of the line this
time 
RLH 

 

13TH BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
11th March 18.
My dear Mum
Received your letter
dated 6th Jan. a couple of
days ago. We are still out
of the line but expect to
be in again very shortly now
do not think I shall have
the luck to get my leave
before going in Fritz is expected
to launch a big attack any
time now so that we are 

 

sure to be held up. Am
going to the flying corp for
3 days some time in the near
future for experience wont it
be great shall have plenty
of flying and no doubt a
ripping time these chaps live
like lords Am doting on it
and looking forward to the
experience very much Shall tell
you all about it later.
Have not seen Nana for some
time he is away at another
school which lasts about 5
weeks have only been to one
school in France 5 days bombing
1DRL345   3/3

 

that was about 12 months ago
still it is a good job am not
very keen on schools on this side
only ones I would like to go to
would be Aldershot or Haling
Island in England. Had a big
Brigade show yesterday Church
parade first then presentation of
MM. DCM. medals & ribbons by
Gen Birdwood after which a
march past it was an excellent
show the weather glorious. Everyone
turned out well it must have
been a great sight for an
on looker we were congratulated
on the show. We are having
most delightful weather now the
last few days have just been
like Australian Spring nice warm
sun & a clear atmosphere Yesterday
the time was advanced an hour
extra daylight business you know
looks as if the the winter is about
done & an early summer setting
in which will always do me
although this winter has not been too
bad in France much better than I
expected. Hope you received the snaps 
I sent home of the snow about Xmas
& new Year. Drs Wallack & self went
for a great ride yesterday afternoon
ended up in a good sized town
had a topping dinner some oysters &
champagne and some fun with the
French lasses my things are different
on this side of the world am afraid
the Australian people would be very
shocked at what goes on Am feeling
pretty well Mum do not know whether
I got rid of all that gas yet still there
is no chance of getting away as long as
a fellow can carry on Coy commanders
are rather valuable beings and of course
the longer at it the more valuable
C.O's do not like letting you away when
there is anything doing and there always 
seems to be something expected all sorts of
things expected shortly the wind is well & truly vertical
lots of love to all Bob

 

13TH BATTALION
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
19th March 18.
My dear Jane
Thanks ever so much
for the very nice parcel from
home which arrived yesterday your
card was dated 14th Dec so that
it took some time to reach me
its contents were OK and all
intact. On the same day everyone
in the Battn received a parcel
from the comforts fund you know
those in the cardboard boxes all
of which were very much appreciated.

 

by all. We had a great Rugby foot
ball match against the 15th. Battn last
Saturday which was hard and fast
the two blues won so that next
Saturday we again play them for 
the final of the Brigade competition
and we expect to have another cup
to our credit we also play the 
16th tomorrow for the final in
association game and have no doubt
we shall grab that cup to then
there is some more boxing to come
off also some rifle matches all of
which I like ourselves for this
N.S.W. Battn takes some beating at
any old thing believe me. Look
out for our photos in some of
the papers Anzac Bulletin etc the
official photographer took us all a
few days ago but which papers they

 

will be reproduced in I cannot say.
Had a great day out last Sunday The
Dag (Doc Wallack) the Doc (Major Craig Melbourat
swan) & self; we squared the C.O to
allow us off church parade set out on
our horses about 10 am and had a
regular round trip completing in all
about 40 miles visited several new towns
of some size where I had not been
before unfortunately I cannot mention the
names of them or say much about them
on account of censorship regulations we
had plenty of good fun with the
French lasses good food good champagne
and all the rest of it ended up
by calling in to see Humph. Browning
who is doing splendidly now I am
happy to say and is out of danger
although he will probably get a
trip home if he wants it. Had
some great fun last night came in
about 9-30 P M after teaching the boys
to do wiring in the dark with gas
masks on etc and sat down to our 
supper we have something every night in
our billet last night stewed rabbit potatoes
cocoa & whiskey very nice to having supped
well and got my orders out for to-day
turned in to read some papers Hope's
effort Tattler London Opinion Passing Show
Bystander etc. Well I was nicely tucked
in with a nice clean pair of pymjas
the inevitable pernicious weed in the mouth
when in walked one of our officers dressed
in womans clothes in company with
a French girl or Belgian rather dressed
in his uniform my word she looked
fine also our chap did up splendidly
of course they dragged me out of bed
put an overcoat on a pair of top
boots we all then went around
and visited all the wounded officers
it was splendid fun of course it
meant a wad at each place also
you should have seen the parde's
face when we went in to his

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