Letter from J M Jarvis to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, 25 January 1916

PR82/8
Wych-Hazel
Birrell St
Waverley
25.1.16
Editor S M Herald
Sir
I am forwarding copy of part
of a letter written to me by my
Husband Pte W.H. Jarvis
2^nd Batt:- for publication
or as much of it as you care to-
Kindly oblige
(Mrs W H) & M Jarvis
 

Jarvis 

Anzac Trenches
7.11.15
Received your letter dated 12^th July
Have been anxiously waiting
letters from home. I have met
quite a number of old friends
lately. You might send me a few
hard chocolates for the winter.
Have just come off sentry - Am
on observation post; in a tunnel
two two hours on, and four off, during
the day - and one on, and two off,
during the night - There are some dead
bodies quite close to my post, and the
perfume that is wafted on the breeze
in through my look out is anything
but agreeable; especially if one 
happens to be having a meal there.
You know how I'd like that; being so
fastidious. There is a lot of bombarding
going on today - we are to be out of the
firing line tomorrow morning. We'd
48 hrs in firing line, 48 in supports, and
48 in reserves Very seldom get your clothes
off here, Generally have to wash, clean my
teeth, and shave in about ½ a cup of
water - can go down to the beach sometimes

and have a swim, then we run a risk
of getting hit from "Beachy Bill" a name
given to a turkish gun, which shells
the beach pretty frequently - 
I have a little dug out" to sleep in when
I'm not in the firing line, it would
remind you of a rabbit burrow, have just
room to crawl in and lie down, am fairly
safe once I get there. Anzac is made
up of the first letters of the words Australian 
New Zealand Army Corps I was
reported missing for a while - hope you
got my card, and letters, telling you
that I was wounded in "Lone Pine Charge"
am in good health, and feeling fit - hope you
are enjoying good health too - my pencil is
very blunt and I have no knife to sharpen it
Dont forget to write, and write often. The one
thing I long for, are letters from home -
when a man comes off post, and tries
to get a little sleep, the vermine get capering
about, and attacking, and counter
attacking, one another They give as
much uneasiness as the bullets
Have got rather very nice testament sent from
Sydney for the A S H soldiers. God bless and keep you

A R Allen