Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1918 - Part 12

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.105
Difficulty:
4

Page 1 / 10

morcourt we were there a few days & were then sent to Rosuere & We stopped there a few more days + then came take to Chipilly, Morcour, Mercan & were straping duty spllowing him up the next day or so hrohy to Bray where we stopped a couple of days said a bit of boxing on with hiaw & from there we went to suganne & from the last named place we advanced through Peronne & oaer just a couple of mile east of that place & are camped now in a place called Doignt, We are out in receive jut at present I have been so for about furedn the s when not in mont St Quenten was captured &it was a builliant achievenent as it conmanded Feronns. Our boys played havoe in Irily ranks I walked over the battlefield the next morning (a our guns had moved up to what the day before had been th front cline) & the ground was
5 strewn with German bodie Your boys must have outmanirwere them for I only saw two dead Anstralians during a couple aphour walking. Our fellows had neek the baxonet freely st gaod advantage for dozens of the Prssion Guards (who were opposing us) were the victume of cold steel. This will seem going & bloodthinly to you as home butone gets hardened scallous to seeing a wodas tying about hacked gashed beyond recognition. some of the prisoners that came in ttold us that they had been sent p from Verdun to stop the Ausae 1 as they had stopped inem before but the infantry ran throw in them at a gallop. We have jost left behind us the old somme batte field & the kass has grown over the old shal holes & trench you often read in the papers where whee may have captured several village but you can just preture
5 what were villages as there are in most cases very little of them left all you may see is a few heags of buicks & mortar what a few years ago would neme been I dont anay ta detent sized town whether they intend giving only a by puch this antuun over the Hindenbury live but if they do thly will want to get to work right ate for another month will knas winter on io us again & sight is pradically at a standstill then, you said in your last letter that you hoped we wouldn't have to put in another winter in Frand but yu oy han face another one. still I think i can stick it, it not so bad if y can manage to kep your feet dy for we generally make ourselves at comfortable as circumstance will pennet so it no aoe prowle now I will close for the time being & will write a few mo later on astwoutpost thi to bin di he
After we left Doigent we went to geancourt + we there a week or so fort in local attacks + then about-Sept 39th We attacked the Hindinbur time just north of 3t Quention & crossed the famous Canal & Sunnel (whieh you have no doubt read a great dear atant in the papers) & fought our way to Le Catelet where Tritz put up a very strong resistance. I left the Battery at he Catelet &f Goney, but they have adounce miles since I left & it will take me quite five days to a week to find the Battery when I get back to France. I gots sen pounds (₤10) from the frrin coming through London & will get another ten ofI want it lowegotack totondon. I received your Binday ake about a fortngen ago &it was clovely. Iexpect some of my other pels will have arrived while sam over here bt the other boys will get the benefit. those. I met Billy Gray ss a London sube last Wednesding & he is OR & quite happy although he has lost an arm. Will closenow with love to all Rawso
France 76. 9. 18. n AUSTRALEN WIPERILFOREE. ather Dear Mother said last letter that I hoped to pust my next letter to you from England but shavent beeen dulky thi week bu 2 &S a 84 0 roster te Epect X anytime I am Gettin I quite exule the thoght of Nede tene in l wre and to ou in due cour 20 for 670
Co. Hlasgon& Ednbrg for a fert dangs o thei How 1 Searborough t a remainder X for hond corple of days 22 at k Sou Blerry Sam ne Yesterd 7 do which was in aft X Vithday agremn keep gues oder 1 beautiful t which creat Au activity. wel nt brill 4 3 p carch he
n G e er vroought don in quick succession last night othere were great cheers went up as they thro cane crasting 4 the an C frea There am 3 just made boys the has arrangen for 900 of them is return to Australia the was rind ary payr a f I went to your a concert the night before last &. dn the interval an announcemen the stage that decageant were want D.M. Seargel F.T.O
to refrrt 0 at astralia when the back to t5 < them two of led trer out they cheers from vorys St wa Ithe bucke surprise to bedgars. But turn writ extect by a letter & will S a 4 sell wan way that d A Strict cun alia clothing & equipment of you should happen to lose any un generall the you
< 4 In AUSTRALAN BIPERIRLFOREE. from N pr rile 6 Your smates & you make a slot of mate the arry f Tell him to provid ie with 40 leaves as 26 a wesh. 10 your an Supp leaned ll Ifi and P.T.O.
8 f atile few d YO d al 6 we ar to a t 65 nt Rachor ead conafe shell bt ain late Cob passed L

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