Letters from Mervyn Ernest Hazen to his family, 1916-1917 - Part 9

 

Y.M.C.A

AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
 

Yes Mater, I am certain from enquiries made, that Chas
Chappell is Dead. I hope you have received the picture of
Scalby that I sent to you. So you did get your visitor
for Xmas. Fancy the Rotter getting on the Booze I'd like to
have been there while he was there. Did he get to Melbourne
Im not too sure now, that Bill Lowe is in France. I
heard some time ago. that he was still in Perham Downs.
Yes. I know that Jack Farrands is back in the
firing line. I was only 1 mile away from him once
but could not get off to see him. It is true that Jack
Leahy has been wounded but the nature of his wounds
I don't know No I didn't get Tom Cross in with me
but I often see him & we have a knock about together so
Young Jack has had another Victory at the School
sports Eh. he seems is hold his own, How is young
Chas shaping this year. is he training
While I was on

Guard we played the 1^st Anzacs staff &
the Guard team made me. Captain. we
got a horrible beating the first match 4-11 to
2 points. but we gave them a good game the
second game. They only beat us by a few
points 4-6. to 4-4. I myself. broke down in
the first 5 minutes. I kicked the Ball & all my
groins knotted up so came off the ground
& Captained from the Boundary. I've been stiff as
a board ever since.
Well Mater I want to answer
some of the other letters I received.
We are now
just behind the lines waiting our turn to go in
& then off we go back for a spell a long one
We are on a diffrent front alltogether now
to what we were awhile back
Well Goodnight
Mater Best of Love to all & heaps to
yourself
I remain
You loving Son
xx Mervyn

 

Address reply to Somewhere in France.
19/2/17 
Dearest Mater
The mail closes tonight so thought I'd
drop you a few more lines.

We are 'going up' again in

a couple of days time & shall be up for nearly xx

a week.

The Mud is as bad as ever on account of the

"Thaw" that set in a few days ago.

I got a great surprise

the other day. I was going up for a bath & on the road

up I met no less a person than Bert Kitts that was

in the Corowa Hospital with Dad By Jove he does look well

on it. He tells me that Jack Corboy & Evans are in camp

only about 1 mile from here. I may go over to see them

tomorrow night.

I am on the loafers list today. I was

not in the best of form this morning so went to

see the D^r & he put me on L Duties for the day.

I got a letter from Effie Jackson some time back

& in it she told me she had sent me a box. Well 

I have received a box. & I can't tell whether it

is from you or xxx her. So I'll tell you the 

Contents & if it isn't yours well, tell her it has

come to light & thank her for it for me. There

was 2 pair of Black sox, 2 Handkerchiefs, 2 tins Chocolates

1 tin Cough drops, tin of Nestles Cream. & a couple of

other articles so you can tell whether it is yours

or not.

Well Mater I can't think of any more

to write about now so shall close with best

love to all at home, & heaps to yourself.

I remain

Your loving Son

Mervyn x x x x

In the Trenches.

France 10/3/17

1

Dearest Mater.

As you will see by above, where I am

writing this. This is our 6th day in the trenches. but we

haven't had too hard a time up to now. We first came

up to "Reserve" trenches Sunday night. stayed there till

Wednesday night. & then moved up to "Supports" where we

are now. tonight we moved up to "Close Supports" about

400 yds behind the front line. At present we are

in a deep dugout in an old German trench

it is a good dugout with only 9 of us in it. It

is only a couple of weeks ago that Fritz was holding

all of this ground around here, now he is over

1 mile back from here. He is getting "the Cane" properly

now. We have to put 5 more days in. & then we

go back to another area for a 2 month spell.

It will be goodO, won't it.

Just before I came up here

I made arrangements for a book Entitled. "Australians

in France". to be sent to you. it will be sent in

8 different pieces so give me "the Oil" if you receive

them allright & Mater, don't forget to keep it, as

 

2

I haven't seen it yet. I paid 5/- for the lot. You mention

about writing to me the other day after my birthday. I can hardly

realize that I am 23. I don't seem any different now, to what

I did when going to School. You say you are beginning

to feel old. Get out. Buck up, you are worth

thousands of old ones yet. I want to see you looking

the same, when I get Back, as when I left you. You say

You don't know where I am now Well Mater. I'm

sorry I can't tell you. but sufficient is that I am

still well & going strong. If "Cocky" is as mischievous

as you say I can see him coming to a sad end.

How

did the Boys get on in camp. They went to a decent place

if they went to "Altona Bay" Is Kit home from town

yet. How is work going with Dad & the Boys. I hope they are

getting their Share. You can tell Effie Jackson

that I received her parcel all right & thank her

for me. I got it just before I came up this time. I

have received your two parcels also so I've been very lucky

I received a nice parcel from a few girls I met in

Scabby, it was a bonny little parcel too. The "snaps"

you mention have not turned up yet. I am still

waiting for the photo of the family. When am

 

 

3

I going to get it. You hope I am not in the

trenches yet. this is my about my 3rd month of

it & what you hear of the Mud is quite true. So