Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1917 - Part 5

Now & mentioned the tucker question,
perhaps I can say a few more things
in reference to our menu's, before I say
any more no doubt you will say poor
bounders, but we really don't D need your
sympathy as we have got perfectly used
to our rough & not to say inviting bill of
fare, we have got to put up with what
we get & our principal worry is wether
we can get enough that is fit to eat.
Now don't read this as an epistle of
complaints, it is just to give you an idea
how we fare with our rations, we are
quite satisfied, though not in the true sense
of the word, we are continually grumbling
about the Q M & the rations, but that
is our priviledge, our chief trouble is
that any bad stuff issued cannot be
exchanged like we should do at home if the
grocer palmed off crook stuff on to us.
Just the other evening we were given as dry
nations two loaves of bread between five, there
was no jam, in its place were dates & they
had been consumed by grubs before a xxx

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we got them, so we tossed them to the pigs,
then, the butter, which was labled "Pure
Irish cream butter" could not be approached
it would kill at five yards, thats some
of the Sein Feiners products for you. We have
occasionally to have biscuits & bully as a days
rations, we generally get a loaf of bread between
three, but the amount varies.
Such things would have almost
caused us to bolt for home, from any of the
camps in Ausie, but we have grown accustomed
to such occurrences over here, & they pass
without causing us any worry, we simply
do without the articals in question, & sling
a lot of abuse at the heads of the war
profiteers, who pass such foul products on
to the government for the army who is
keeping the enemy from their lousy homes.
Lately we have been extremely
short of jam, & the canteen has been doing
fine business in that line, they charge us
1 fr 50 (1/1d) for a 1 lb tin.
We get bacon? for breakfast &
stew for dinner almost as regularly as
night follows day, but as I said before
we do not mind our one desire is to get

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back home, where we can derive a reasonably
amount of pleasure out of life, & forget the
army rations. We are still out of the line
we have no idea when we will see action
again, our hopes are that we will not
have to experience another winter in
the line, like the last, but it appears
that we will. I hope & trust that I
do not have to see another one through,
there's ^(only) way out & thats better than
going through it, thats is to get a knock
& put some time in hospital, but I
might be as unlucky ^(again) as I was last year,
almost every body had a few weeks in
hospital one way or another from my section,
but I could never manage it, never got
really ill & could never catch a bullet on
the bounce.
Sund 2^nd
Well just a few more lines before I send the
letter, there is very little to write about
Ade mentioned that he was sending along a
parcel by the same mail, it has not come
along yet, but it is something to look
forward to when the next lot of mail comes.
I expect you have received the photo of
four mates & myself, well I don't think I

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mentioned at the time who the chaps were
& no doubt you have been wondering.
Well the chap sitting with the short trousers
is my mate, he & I are members of A section
The three others are in B section.
Their names are, standing on my right C. Owers
from Sydney & on my left Pte Jacobs, I'm not sure
about his home have an idea its in Queensland.
My mate Ernie Brown lives in North Sydney
& the other chap, ^R Palmer comes from Hamilton [[?]]
The five of us are common Ptes with the
exception of Jacob all bearers, he being in
the hospital section.
My mate & the chap standing behind him
both received Military medals for their work
at Bullecourt.
The photo was hardly worth sending but it
is a sample of the frogies work, never any
good in that line, I had a photo taken
a few days ago, but don't suppose its
any good either, will probably get it tonight.
We are getting plenty of rain lately, last
Tuesd it blew a gale all day, ^but nothing out
of the ordinary for a gale, but but nevertheless
with sufficient force to blow down dozs of big
trees, if a storm similar to some that

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cross Australia at times were to sweep
through here hardly a tree would remain
as they grow to a tremendous height
& are bunched up at the top
Last Teusd we marched past the Gen
commanding the army to which we are
attached. I have not heard from
Herb Smith or any of the Keys. Did they
write to you at all?
I was very pleased to hear
from Ade that Norm was getting
better, I hope he is able to leave the
sanitorium before long.
I think I had better say
au revoir for the present
yours ever very sincerely
Bert.
PS
I would not mind an occasional magazine
or book if you can send them along.
Now the winter is coming on would be
pleased if you sent along a couple
pairs of socks every mth, would be pleased
with a decent pair of gloves for the winter also.
Bert

12 Sept 1917
Mrs Reynolds
Albert Sr
Sebastopol Ballt
Victoria Australia
 

In the Field
France
Sept 5^th 1918
Dear Mother
Since writing last I
have been very pleased to receive
two letters from you, also the bonza
photos from Flo, which I'm very
pleased with, though really she has
changed very much since you sent
me her last photo. I'm satisfied
that most of the younger folks at
home will have changed to such
an extent since I seen them last,
that one will not know them when
we meet again. The photo you sent
of Stan is very good, he looks quite
a big lad now, especially in his

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new outfit
The photos I sent you
are a bit of a mystery I cannot
make it out at all, however they
may turn up sooner or later, there
is a couple of photos enclosed
in case the others do not turn
up, so you will have at least
a couple of post cards.
I was extremely sorry
to hear that Uncle Charlie has
had such a bad turn again, also
that Norm is not improving at all,
I've very often wished that it
were possible for me to get back
to see him again, but unfortunately
I'm afraid that when my turn comes
to return home it will be too late
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to see him, they have started the
scheme of giving up a furlough to
Ausie but the rate they are sending
us back is extremely slow, & it's very
difficult to say when my turn will
come.
I received a few lines from
Herb yesterday, things have been
going pretty well with him lately,
though they have been kept very busy,
he expects to get a few days leave
to go up to his peoples at Macc
on the 10^th.
There is no further news to
send for the present. I am keeping
perfectly well lately. Things are
going very satisfactoryxxly over here
in every way at present; things have

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changed during the past six months
or so almost beyond belief, at the
present time going into action is
a picnic to what it was once, &
what's more no one seems to worry
about getting a serious knock, there
seems to be some satisfaction in
seeing so much done for ones effort
& that seems to make a great difference
in the way one looks upon going
out. There us another thing, our
looses have been exceptionally low
all around, making our efforts during
the past few months all the more
satisfactory.
Well, I must ring off for
the present so. Au revoir for the
present. yours ever very sincerely
Bert.

Sept 5 1917
Mrs Reynolds
Albert St
Sebastopol Ballarat
Victoria Australia