Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1918 - Part 4

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13^TH BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE
room be being well and truly in
but afraid he was terribly shocked
it was a great shock joke no wonder
is it that he tells us we are 
much too bad to win the war
or for it to finish for a 
long while yet. My Jane you 
should have seen the lass dressed 
up in the officers uniform She
was some kid. I arrived back
to my billet at 1-30 am and 
had just got off to sleep
when the Hun started shelling
the place with big stuff the 
bed walls floor etc shook with

the vibration and things were very
hot  this went on for about
2 hrs fortunately there was very
little damage done most of the 
shells falling in fields close by 
still I was most annoyed at
having my slumbers broken Still
it is raining like the devil
to-day and we cannot do
very much which is rather a
good thing.  shall have a chance
of bringing my mail up to date.
We are still out of the line
but expect to go in again about
the end of the month after which
I hope to get my leave  afraid
there is little chance of getting
away before however one never knows.
Have not seen Nana for a long

time he is away at a sh school
but think he is due back any
day now with his unit shall
try and look him up at the
first opportunity. Well my dear must
dry up afraid if all my letters are
as long as this one I shall
never get through of course one
see lots of things and does
lots of things which are would be
most interesting to hear about but
of course one can say next to
nothing about them and the trouble
is if a fellow is lucky enough
to get back again he will have
forgotten so much Give my best
love to everyone Jane nearly 3 years
away now am commencing to think
I was born bred and planted on
this side of the world now however it

will always do me marching up
Pitt St on the way home what
does Australia look like Sydney
eh where is it that is the
place with a beautiful harbour
attached is it not  fancy I
have slight recollections of
Watsons Bay Manly etc etc.
never mind we will make things
hum when we see them all
again Cheer. Oh for the present
Bob

13^th BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
7^th April
2 am
My dear Mum
Have received quite
of lot of letters from you
also a parcel but have
been exceedingly busy and
no chance to write will
try and answer all later
when things settle down &
become normal again if
they do. We are doing
fine work here rushed 

up at a critical time
drive the Hun out of the
village and are keeping.
him at bay most thrilling
experiences and hair breath
escapes but so far am
going strong no news of
any relief yet all are
very weary have been going
strong for the past
eleven days all leave is
stopped and everyone going
strong  of course our casualties
are heavy but the enemys
much heavier he seems to
come at us in millions

of course has pushed through
a lot but he is well in
hand  now and must be
suffering huge losses. Have
had all sorts of fun here
people had to clear out
all in a hurry leaving
everything fowls pigs wine
beer champagne potatoes sugar
china all househould gear
sewing machines clothes everything
you can imagine so we have
been doing all right looting
you may call it but as
the Hun has blown the town
to bits there is not one
house standing now & it was
practically complete four or five
days ago it is just as well
we hopped in for our cut.
I have a lovely stove, bed
mattress & bed clothes (which I
never use to any extent sleep being
scarce) plenty of tables chairs,
dinner sets etc etc in my cellar
which I think is moderately
safe although I would not
trust it too far however that
is all in the game. All leave
is cancelled for the time
being which is rotten however
hope to get away some day
am about due for Blighty also
put in for Paris before this
business started. Cheer Oh for
the present lots of love to all
Bob

13^th BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
16^th April 18
My dear Mum
Received your parcel
January 2^nd with mittens
etc also a pair of socks
& tin of tobacco yesterday
have also received letters
dated 3^rd Feb. 3^rd Feb from Mick.
17^th Feb from Jane. also some
previous letters which I
told you about in a

previous letter News is
very same here nothing
really to tell you all
except we are again out
for a very few days
and everyone on this
side is very busy
as you can imagine
ere you receive this
letter you will have
read a lot in the
papers about the

doings at present  on
this side of the world
and believe me the
Australians are playing
a large part in it
all. Glad to hear all
about yourselves and the
good times you have
had down the coast
Nana is quite all
right as far as
I know he is
further South at present
so have no chance of
seeing him at present
however expect things will
settle down eventually at
present they are a bit
upset. Have no news
that for you that I can
say in a letter still
going strong but not
feeling the best in the
world lots of love to
all  Bob 

13^th BATTALION,
A.I.F.
FRANCE.
21^st April 18.
My dear Mum
Once again in the line and
do not know what will be doing at any
minute these strenuous tunic spells leave
etc are out of the question for the time
being still everyone is very cheery and
as far as the Australians are concerned
far from being beaten they are doing
wonderful work and have saved the situation
on many occasions lately the highest praise
has come and still comes to us from all
the Heads. Of course we are losing men
but what else can be expected if you
do your job. and after all it is good
fun having a crack at the oncoming
thousands of Huns even if one loses ones