Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1918 - Part 5

(9)
for saying will strike
you very funny. But
it is printed in real
Australian. The "Edgeworth"
Tobacco you sent is my
favourite tobacco so when 
you send some more put 
in that Brand. Now I
will have to close so
goodbye with love
& kisses
Your affSon 
Rawson

On
Mr S.Leach
Victoria 
Parke
N. S. es
Australia

send those on to Edwin
 

France
March 18^th 18
Dear Alice,
I received your two
letters one dated Jan 6^th & the 
other no date but both written
at Manly also one from
Ruth written on Boxing day.
I am feeling OK myself &
although I have lost a 
good deal of weight since
I have been in France I feel
good oh & the weather is grand
just at present real spring
time still we know with that
coming on it will soon be &
buying another fight with
Fritz but it's wonderful how 
used you get to a thing &
P.T.O.

(2)

after one has been here a
while you think nothing of
going into action but take it
as an every day happening.
In fact you get very annoyed
if your battery doesn't happen
to get into a scrap & join
in the strafing. Was glad to
hear that you had seen
Roy & hope he hasn't to come back
Dec tho had to try and get
into the A.S.C if he can as it
is one of the best units to be
in over here. Now. All will
have to close as this is only
a note to let you know I am 
well so goodbye with love
to all
Rawson
PS. Received mothers parcel last
night sent on Dec 15.^th
everything OK.
Rawson

On Active Service
Mrs S Leach
Victoria St
Parkes
NSWales
Australia
[*ARL  P.O. 4
23 MAR 18*]
[*PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR
No. 
5008*]
 

France
March 31. 1918
Dear Mother
Just a note this week
to let you know I am well
We have been kept moving
the last week & no doubt
you will be anxiously 
watching the papers now
seeing that Fritz has
launched his offensive
on the Western front. I
would like to tell you
where we are but sorry 
to say I am forbidden
I got Alice's parcel on 
Good Friday the day 
before yesterday & it was
very acceptable The
cigarettes especially as
just at the time they
 

(2)
were unprocurable &
there wasn't a cigarette 
in the battery so you can
guess how we all enjoyed 
them. I will write Alice
later on when I get  a

bit more time & can do
so under more favourable
circumstances. It has been
raining the last couple 
of days & things are in
a lovely puddle I tell
you. Now mother this is
only a note to let you
know I am still going
strong so goodbye with 
love to all
you affSon
Rawson
 

France
April 20^th 18
Dear Mother & Father.
I received your welcome
letters through the week
dated Feb 3^rd 11^th & 18^th also
the reference which Mr Surn
McKay sent on to Father which
will do very well should I want
to use it. I was glad to hear
that you had got word from
me at last after waiting seven
weeks & I hope you won't have
to wait so long again I am
sure some of my letters must
have gone astray as I have
written every week since I 
came over here. By next mail
I should get a reply to my Xmas
P.T.O. 

(2)
mail as you stated having got
letters from me dated Dec 1^st.
I got a letter from Annie Walmsley
the other day & she said that Frank
^Berry had called to see them on his
leave they are delighted to see
him. I have been on the look out
for him the last week or so
but haven't been succesfull so
far in striking his Company. I
suppose you are all anxiously
watching the papers of the great
battle & we are still at grips with
Fritz & we are honoured by defending
a big French city Im sorry I
cannot mention any names.
I came down to day from the
guns after having a week up
there & have been & had a
nice hot bath & got into
a change of fresh underclothing
Also a new Tunic today so I
am toffed up in my best