Letter from Michael De Avila, 4th Battalion to his mother, June 1915

PR82/8

This letter was received from

Pte M. de Avilla

4^th Batt. of 

{"Ruskin" 

{ Arden St

{Waverly

To his Mother.

[*Return by post to*] 

Pvt   De Avilla

No. 15 Field Hospital

Alexandria

June, 1915
Are we down hearted
No.
Dear Mother
Just a few lines to let you

know that I am getting quite well
again by now I hope you are all
the same.  We got into action on Sunday

last month & I can tell you we went
mad & done what no other troops in the

world would have done.  We landed
under very heavy fire of the Navy & it was

a great sight the warships bombarding
the forts & the forts firing. back at the

ships. It was now our turn & at six in

the morning destroyers came alongside

our boat & took us off. We were fully

equipped and carried two hundred rounds

of ammunition & three days rations.

The Turks opened fire on us & shells

fell all round but luckily none hit &

we landed without mishap. as soon
as we put our feet on the shore they opened

fire on us with machine guns & poured
shrapnel into us. We then threw off our

packs, fixed bayonets & charged. It seemed

impossible that we would ever take it up
but we went just mad & nothing could

have stood in front of us. All day long

the fight went on we suffered pretty

heavy losses but drove them back about

three mile. When night fell we

worked like mad & improved our trenches
we had dug for ourselves.We were attacked

all through the night the noise was awful

& we must have slaughtered thousands that

night. After been in the trenches 21 days

I was shot in the side of my nose the

bullet coming out the back of my neck

knocking out 13 of my teeth & breaking my

jaw in three places. some of my gums

have also been blown away I was also

fighting two days with a fractured

thigh. my wound is serious & very painful

I have never ate anything for 5 weeks
they treat me like  lord & cant do

enough for me. I will never be in

the firing line again although bad as

I am I would give my life to be back

at the front. I have never had a letter from

any of you for four months you must have

forgotten me but I have not forgot you.
Things must be bad in Aus but nothing

compared with this here. I am disfigured but
no discredit to me I have done my share &
got my share but would like to do more
We get every attention the food is fit for the

King  poultry, jellies, cakes & sweets of all

kinds. dont worry about me as nothing

is good enough for me or anybody.

I will be coming back to Aus. after going to

Eng. & weigh 12 stone 7 lbs & not got the least
sign of the Cough I am subject to.

Give my kind regard to all my friends.

suppose Frances has got a nice young

man & of some class. With much love
& kind regards to all.
I remain

your loving Son
Mick

Letter

Private

Avilla