Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1918 - Part 8

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

Page 1 / 10

worry so much about disparcels as long his letters which are ofirst importance. Glad to hear that you had such a successiue day for the Red cross. I had a letter from Elsio writte from their new home + they seem to like the change alright. we are back in action again have been in four days now Since we cane back from our spell. Things are very quiet on our sictor. We do most of our firing at night time so as the avoid being observed by the enemy Sim blashes in the day light juis your position away quicker than anything so we kep in our dugonts & have as little movement as possible round the position. Tust thing of a moni when me get up (which is generally between nine sten Oclock) I have had breakfast we dean the gun & straighten thing, up in the yor pit. such as cleaning amuuntis put the emply shell cases from the previous nights firing into bags, have a look at your night laghes & elextric torches. This generally occupies about an hour & Then you do as you like for the rest of the day. The weather shill continue fine & you should see the wild lower. they are just lovely. We have wheat & barley crops grown up all round upe the Larks singing help it brighten up the atmosphere somewhat
I dont think stold you in my last letter that I had fmet jack Byrner he looks well + wishes to be remembered to you all I spent an evening with him in his dugont we had a suppe of viscuits & cocoa. Our position is close gar io abandoned Fench village + there is a big woolen mill there sail sorts of woolen goods there eaters + ladies posiery by the stacks its a pity to see all the waste & ruin. This morning duth put a shell into the village & set the place on fire which is still raging. I saw a drity plane a couple of darys ago come a lovely gutzer. the was up annost out of sight & the antis got on to him stnocked both widgs He took a divel & his engure was roarin all the way down she made a splash when he hit the ground his wings came down about ten minutes later so you can guess what bought he weas up. I am sk myself & hope you are all the same athome. Now mother Hfather I will have to close so good lyfe with love to selver & all at home your affson Ranson Root the Mion 2
10.8.18 Received these from Cother this morning please send them back home when you have read them. Hoping all are O. E
AS 44 Mrs. S heach Victoria St Parke New Souiety Wall talia an
France 21 6. 18 Dear Father I received mothers latter datell april 17 send through uncle also one written tapril seid dinect to me by you on the 20 to the battery. one or two of your letters must have gone astray as I received, no letters Emarch & the 18th april. But dated between 31 they may turn up yet as we never loos hope of tthey don't ture up right to time. You fulld not worry about me not getting ay letters of they are sent to Ancle Fredo. They will be alright as he puts them into a by envelofe & posts the sot on to me. The military people put up all soitod tales about mails etc. You can send my pariels opaprs to the Battery address three of yohn papers tho other night oney the Charpions hadd an account of ashleys send off at-Walla. I reciveed quite a host of letters last night ten altogether some from Instend, KSWales, Retore & Stt Australia, so sgot a good deal of interstate news, I can quite understand your anxiousness a few months ago when you were readi ench day of the withdrawal by the Britast troops when frtz made his mad rush but his wheet has been chocked one more doubt you dont get all the news neither do we but we have a much better knowledge of what is going on than you do out on Australia & i you people at home only have the confidence that, the boys here have of allimately giving frilz a nammering I am sure you would have no need to worry. Fitz advanced but he has paid dearly for what he has won I know from whatssaw with biny own eyes. You could see
his poides coming owen mass founction. Ibein moreed by maching gun & our articlery fire. on one odcasun I saw from ten to twelve wave come over all to melt away & he cant keep these offensives going too long. His move is to forcen decision this summer before the Yanks hop in in full force. Up todate he has made three pushes & has caued noneo her definite ob jectruls. He has only attacked the Australianson inre occasions & each time he has come a gutser. our boy stand out on their own as fighters its a pily we didn't have about fine willion of them. Iuty would get the byjest- brouseng he ever wished for tthey would show him no mercy. The australidis dont stop to argue with them. I saw a German prisoner one duy heretry to get away from some Australins & one of our fellow chased him & put a boyonet through him. Our boygs wont stand any finnry business. They maynot be what we call know & Brasss soldiers but when it comes to the dinkuus thing they are not lacking in energy. They came over here to tant the hum & they want besatisfied thl they have done st. I am quite well & feel OR. have been at the waygon line the last fortnight expect to go up to the battery position on Sunday worning I will We thinking of you all Lt church for we change over generally between 9 & 10 O'clock in the mooning so that will just about comade with the evening serice as you are ten houes a head exour time there. I see bywile
paper that the statian are doing well & that the Austrians arent having it all their own way, I saw Srank bevry a few nights ago the is quite well fim the obest of health we are having plenty of surmining now a we are camped alongside a lake & the weather is ideal. The sarwindig country is just recantiful as everything is so butly ofreen stinted with fied flowers, I am enclose a few flowers which spicked on the present battleficed Poppies & Comflowers grow in abundance. I hope you had a good time on your holiday at Cromilla. I wouldn't mid taken, a trip down there myself. I dont think you waned pick me so edsily now I havegot much ininer than I was when stept austratia But I am none the worse for that as could affoid to lose a stone or so. Inever felt better in all my life. I was sorry to hear that sdo failed in his exam but still better luck next time & he will hie a better sdea of what he had to to through I will be on the look ont for the kt you sent me on the 20th April containet Sobocco ligareties etc. Miss Benetts hussent me a parcet but thav not received same yet. Ihave been a painter the last few days three of us are prepainting the Ammunition waygons from a soldier point of view werre making a huge success out of it. We have plenty of French soldiers now as we are fighting
4 along side one another. They are great fynters I have plenty of heart it is rather an imporing sight to see the hight blus intermingled with the Khaki. I am looking forward to getting my leave when it come round I would like it w saein that the weather is so favorzable for a holiday still sdont expect it get awhile until the have got wrilz a little bit more under their thumt. Hame been in France? en months now, I am alwo enclosen you son shops I too wile on leave in orkshire last September. Annie Walrusley sent then over to me as I got her to dereelop & get them printed We had a concert- the night before last given by a troupe of hustalians knownns the pandicootes they were verry good wo I lave us a proganine equale tto any ou would see at the Bandier or stmlen entertainers. One of the infantry bands were present & gave us several selections, The concer was held in the open & as you areaware it is quite light till 10 eclock of an even ore here. It was ar very pleasant evening so you see we get a little entertainment & allom duyps over here arent dull one & we all do our best to look at the brichtst side of things. Now. Father Idont think have any more news I so will close writ ton to mother self & all athome your afpsin Nottotn awion EnEsmortst R
W 3 Fictoria I I arke 1 . . dustry le s
France Thurs day No 16918 July 4 Dear Father welgom I received your letter which you wrote on Easter mondy (sent to the sattery) about ten days ago although I had had letters of a pation date a week before this one arrived never the less they are always welcome whatever the date on then is I hote your rewards re the going back of the clock of covalication & I think if you leave that to the boy¬ they will deal with Iritz in a manner which is only befitting for him & although driven back we are in no wise rattled &f have seen nothin like our own boys here they always have a smilin, face + althongt they do a bit of grumbli, at times (which is a soldiers priviledge) it is only skin

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