Letters written by Ernest Lionel Bailey October 1916 to April 1918 - Part 4

My Husband mentions taking
photos up the line with Captn Bean,
in this letter, & if you will refer
to page 83 of "From the Australian
Front" there is a photograph of
him, Captn Bean is standing centre
& believe my Husband to his right.

1.12.17

My Darling Little Wife xxxx

It seem ages
since I had a letter from you

Darling, but I guess I shall have
quite a number, for I have shifted
from H Qr's now and I am very
pleased too, and they might be
holding on to them until I call.
Well Baby I have been very busy
since I last wrote you, the boss
came round the day before
yesterday and asked me to go
up to the front line with him
taking Photos, and I went, well
we drove up in a motor until we
got to - and walked the rest
and I had my photo taken
standing byside a few pill-boxes
but Fritz started sniping with
 

2

with his big shells and after a
lot of abuse from the boys in
the line, (for we were exposing
ourselves) we got into the trenches
myself I was rather glad and
took some photos of the boys in
the trenches, whilst I was up
there he killed 4 and wounded
6 but my opinion is that the
trenches are palaces compared
to last year, for we have the
ridges now, and he is in the
mud, I spent 6 hours up there
so I saw a little bit of the old
game but of course I never go
into the line ( according to some people)
but I will bet I go up more often
than any other man. I am sending
the Bulletin (2) they never came
 

3

last week, it gives an account of
my doings here,
I am very pleased to hear Bit Priest
is in England and I hope he is doing
well, he will be alright for the
winter now, I suppose Jessie has
been to see him,
Well Darling I am just longing for
my trip over, and by the way
things are going, I ought to get
a trip soon, but Gallagher wrote
me asking who was going to run
the depot whilst I was away,
I soon wrote back and told him
I could fix that.

I can put two stripes up now
but they have not put it
in my pay-book, so I dont

think it matters, but I am sure
 

4
to get promotion shortly for
Gallagher to doing his utmost
I was delighted to hear our
Boy liked his card I can always.
picture him, going to bed, give

him some Bonzer kisses and let
him we will have some time
when I came home, have you heard
from Simpson yet when you do
dont forget Mother slipper for
you know we promised them
quite a long time ago.
I received a letter from Sissie
this week and she mentioned that
Mother and Sissie were fairly
well, so I take it that they are
not too good, I think I will have
to have another trip over and
then everything with be tray bon
 

5

How I dream for that time to come
Darling, when I can hold my Baby
oh so close, well Darling I am
going to count the days now
and chance it, for I think I
with be over any time now.
I am feeling in the best of health
thanks to God, for I have only my
Little Wife to think about and you
are never out of my thoughts.
Give my love to Dear Mother xxxx

Sissie xxxx Jim & Edie and tell

our Boy, daddy is just longing
to see him. Kind regards to
Jessie hoping Priest is well on
the road to a successful recovery

for Frank

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

All my love xxxxxxxx

Your Ever Loving xxxxxxxx

Hubby, Ernestxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxx 

 

Love to the

"Missus" xx
5.1.18

My Dear Sissie

I guess you

have been strafing me for

not answering your letter 

but I know you will understand,

I felt as If I could not

write at Xmas knowing that

I would not be home.

I am very busy just now

fixing up regarding my

trip over, for I am expecting

Gallagher over soon, so I

want to be ready to get

away as soon as he arrives 

3

time at Xmas thro only

part I did not enjoy was 
the 26th  (morning), as you say  loved
Merry nights make sorrowful

mornings, but the Walkers
Whiskey has a terrible kick

and to tell you the truth

I am very glad Xmas as only 
one of 365 days.
We had a fine dinner but
the toasts were far too
many, I happened to be perched  
along side the Major, he
would not let me reneg.
What a contrast to the Xmas
before, I would have given
anything for a peg then
2

I was delighted to hear, you

all had a Merry time at

Xmas, I would have loved

to have been with you,

but "I am Fairy Dun" my time

is to come, and sooner the

better.

By what I can hear Frank

is getting a rare Nut, but

there is one consolation, I

know that he is quite well

again otherwise he would

not yet up to so many

pranks, I often have a

good laugh at some of his

rare jokes Aimee tells me

of. I had a very good

4

cannot understand why
we have not received and
mail from Aust (W) for a
considerable time, it is very
hard on the boys not to get

a letter more often, I hope
they have not been lost.
Many thanks for the
cigarettes and Lollies you
sent, I am bringing some
sugar over when I come

A Cobber of mine filled his
pack full when he went on
leave, and he said it was
the best present one can
give now. Hoping you are
in the best of health. Love to
all at Dear Old Holmlands

Your ever Loving Brolis

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Ernest. 

 

5.12.18
My Dear Mother
No doubt

you will have thought

I was a long time

answering your letter

To tell you the truth I

have been very busy lately

having to be out all

day, and, it is a very

common thing for me

to write about thirty