Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1918 - Part 3

4
While over seeing Leo we went
to a football match the Aust.
Tunnellers were playing some
of the New Zealanders & while
there I met-one of the Riley
boys from Parkes he is in
the Tunnellers had a chat
with him for a while. It
to surprising the fellows you
meet over here. Leo looks.
very well I think but he
is very thin of course he
was never one of the
fat kind. I was going out
this afternoon to see some
of my pals in other batterie
but it is so miserable
outside that I changed
my mind & have turned
to letter writing. I have just
been down & had a hair
cut at one of the Infantry
Battalion Barbers. Everyday
is alike over here & you never
know week days from Sundays
The only way you can tell
it is Sunday is that you
 

5
see the French & Belgian people
dressed up & all going to
church. I am keeping
well myself & hope
you are all the same
at home. Now mother
I will have to close now
but wll add some
more as soon as I get
your letters
March 6^th
I received two letters from
you last night along
with Alices parcel dated
Dec 24^th & 30^th also a
couple from Alice & Ruth and
Xmas card from Sallie.
So you spent your Xmas
down at Mr Wat Howards

6
It is the first time you
have missed Xmas dinner
at home for some time,
still I guess you would
all have an enjoyable
time as well as circumstances
would allow as I know
that your thoughts are
always cast in this direction
& I think that those at
home who have to just
patiently wait for news
are bearing the battle
just as much as we are.
I know my letters aren't too
interesting & they must bore
you at times as we cant
put much in them for they
have all to pass through
the censors hands & if we
were to give any names of
places & happenings etc the
letter would be probably
destroyed. It is hard at times
to write without infringing
 

7
on the laws that govern the
censorship. Four Fritz planes
were just making over
our lines but the "antis"
got onto them & drove them
back. The weather we are getting
now is very opportune for
the avaitors & of course there
is great aerial activity. We
often see aerial combats
& its a great sight to see
the planes manouevering
for positions when they
are going to attack. The
chaps start betting on which
plane will come a gutzer
to put it in Australian
 

8
I have just been & had a
hot bath at a French farm
house. We can get a blg hot tub
of water & towel & soap provided
for 1½ Francs which is equal
to 1/3 in English money. I tell you
it is well worth it too. I
had a letter from Ethel  Buxendall
the other night & she has been
very ill but is on the mend
now. They are very anxious
for me to go & spend some
of my next leave with
them so I am looking forward
to having a good time.
Alices pcl was OK & all the boys
send their love to Alice.
It is very funny when we
get a pcl I tell you. You ought
to hear the comments etc
as each article is unfolded
& I am sure if you could
only see the parcels unfolded
you would be amply repaid
for all the trouble you
 

9
go too. I have been very fortunate
with  my parcels up to date
& the only one that is overdue
that I know of is Sallies. She
said she was sending one
some time ago but so far
It has not turned up still
I havent given up hope of gettting
it yet as they roll in at
all times. Now Mother &
Father I will have to
close so good bye with
love to all to all at
home & selves
Your aff Son
Rawson.
 

On Active Service
Mrs. S Leach
Victoria St
Parkes
New South Wales
Australia
 

Send these letters
on to Olive & if open
Lee Arch or Salle
tell them [[?]] are on 
the letter
  

France
March 10^th 18
Dear Mother.
Just a line
or two to let you know
that I am still well
& keeping OK . We expect
to move tomorrow back
for a spell for a month
or six weeks. Went to
a picture show last
night which helps to
releive the monotony
of the place here a
little. Saw some of my
old pals yesterday &
had a good long  talk
with them. The weather
 

2
is just lovely now & today
is a real spring day & it
makes one think of spring
days in Australia, but what
a difference there to here.
for you can hear the never
ceasing rumble of guns
& the clatter of machine
guns & the whirl of the
planes above carrying
their weapons of destruction
What do you think
the Calamity that has
befallen Russia what a
trap she has led herself
into. Thank goodness we
have a good wall of steel