Letters written by Ernest Lionel Bailey October 1916 to April 1918 - Part 2

2
I could think so, - there is a vast
amount of work etc to be done yet, and
Fritz will get the biggest hurry up he has
ever had in his life - soon, I hear they
have made some wonderful figures regarding
the War Loan that will give the Boys
"some" go, for a fellow has to have the
constitution of a horse to stand this
weather, it is marvelous how our chaps are
standing it, in fact one hears more growling
from the Tommies, who are better looked after
than us, and who are far more used
to the climate, but there, the War would
not go on, if we did not growl at
something. It will be funny to get back into
civil life again. I can't imagine it, it will
be like a new world with my Baby what
a time in store for us eh, I often compare
it with the song "My Little Grey Home in the
West." I was sorry to hear Frank was not
too well give him a big Kiss for me, and tell
him I recieved his letter alright and that I
shall be home soon. I think it with be
better to get leave later on because the
 

weather with be warmer. and - I have
got to have some consolation, I am making
all preparations for it, in fact I have
washed two shirts and put them by, for
when I hear those wonderful word from
the Boss:- "You have been granted Leave".
I think I will go mad with excite-ment
I am waiting for an answer from the Bank,
then. I will write Pa Simpson, I ought to
get a reply soon.
You never mentioned how Mother was in
your letter so I guess she is much
better, I sincerely hope so, I have not recieved
Sissie's letter yet,  I suppose it is out the road
somewhere?  tell her I am just the thing, but
rather annoyed at the eave being stopped
I think I will see Hay about it and see
if he can fix me up for a trip, I must
now close Hoping this will finer you all
in the best of Health All my love
PS I  have not heard
from Jim or any
of teh since last
told you, Bum to 
them
Yours Ever
Ernest xxxxxxxxx
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France
11/5/17
My Dear Sissie
Many thanks for
your letters, I received last
night
Well I am very pleased
to say, that I am quite
recovered from the dose of
Neuralgia and I am fully
pretty fit. again, and the
weather has made a change
for the better it has been
just it lately in fact just
like an Australian winter,
but, not so reliable anyhow
it will do me for the
duration of this slaughter
I was very pleased to hear
you were moving back to
 

2
your old home, and I would
dearly love to lob in just
at moviny day, you know.
Just when you were in the
middle of it to get in the
way and make myself a
general nuisance, but the
thing is, getting leave. I 
would give anything for
a trip to Sunderland just
now, but I suppose me
turn will come soon and
the sooner Dry Hay is a
bit more liberal with it the
better we will like him, for
I think the Boys have had
their cut of it this winter.
I received Franks' photos some
time back. I think he is
a Bonzer lad.
week but
I wrote you last week but
 

3
I could not get a green envelop
for I don't care for every
one reading and cutting parts
out etc, for I never write
war news we see enough, and
you can see by the papers
how things are going.
I think Fritz is about settled
and, on his last legs and
won't be satisfied until we
are smashing Germany to
pieces.
Well Sissie I dont think there
is any more to write about
hoping, you are quite settled
down and everything is A I
Give my Love to Mother and
tell her I am looking forward
to a very happy meeting Love
to Aimer XFranK X and yourselfX
Yours Very Sincerely
Ernest
 

France
21/8/17
My Darling Little Wife
I received your
nice long letter last night, and
I was glad to hear that you had
written the Pay-master, so you ought
to have a reply ere this arrives.
I have some good new to tell you
this letter Baby
I have left the 1^st A Salvage and I
am now with Capt Bean, The Aust.
War Correspondent, in charge of all
War Trophies, and have got a first
rate job.
I think it must have been an act of
God, for I was detailed along with
fifteen others to go up to a forward
Area when the Major sent for me
and told me, he was recommending
me for the above job, he said that
 

2
all I have to do was to look after
myself, and I would be sure of
promotion, so I at last jcut one strip
up and took the chance
We are collecting War Trophies Etc.
to form a Museum after the War
in Australia, also our Major mentiooned
that if I cared for it after the
War there would a good job, also
I will be able to get a few trips
to England to bring these Trophies
Etc over, and see the Wife, very
thought ful of him eh, but the luckiest
part of the whole thing is, of the
fifteen that went up forward they
had only been there a day, when
a shell lobbed and killed four
and badly wounded two, of the men
who had been my section, all last
winter and whose Photos you have at
Holmlands those which I sent you (little
ones)
 

3
Dont you think I was extremely
lucky to miss the lot Baby, but
they were fine men, and were very
sorry to know, when I told them I
was leaving them, one of them (the
fellow in front of the Photo with his
hat shading his face, said, "(Well Bill
old man I am sorry in one way, but
I am glad in another, for you have
your Little Wife to look after now,
and it don't do to take too many risks.
I said, "all right Fathers don't give
me a lecture," and that was the last
I saw of him until I heard the sad
news, one of the fellows only got
back from leave a day after me
too, I can tell you Baby it made
me sit down and think a bit.
Look after those little Photos for
I don't think I can get any more
 

4
I was rather sorry you did not
get my letters on the 16th, for I posted
it in ample time.
Glad to hear you had a good
time Baby, I was thinking to
myself all day, I wonder what my
Little Wife is doing now, I wanted
to be with you oh so much, for
I know My Baby feels lonely without
her Mate, it seems terribly hard
for us to be parted, but cheer up
Darling it will not be long now
before we are together.
I bet there was some fun when
Frank found the penny, I would
have given anything to have seen
his face, tell him that Daddy
will not be long now before he
is back at Dear old Holmlands
and tell Sissie from me, not to
laugh at my Australianised (good word) French
 

5
Well Baby, as you will have
read by the papers our Boys
have had a glorious victory.
They went over the top with the North of England Tommies
And I sincerely hope and
trust Bill Priest has come
through his first stunt as a
Lieut, with flying colours, our
causalities were very light
according to reports. I never had
a chance of seeing him for I had
to report here on the day I was going
out to dig him up.
Well Darling, I must close hoping
the letter finds My Baby in the
Best of health also Mother XX SissieXX
and Our BoyXX. How I should
Dearly Love to be at Holmlands
tonight. Love to all at home, hoping
Edie had a good trip ^kind regards to Jim
Your Ever L
Loving Hubby XXXXXXXX
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Ernest XXXXXXXXXXX
For Frank
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