Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 22

[*O.A.S.
4/10/17
Recd. 22/11/17
Miss L. M. Grant
413 Park Street
North Carlton
Melbourne
Australia
[*KMcK Doig*]
 

France
6.10.17
My dear Louie,
While we are having
these few days' spell it's just
as well to write as many
letters as one can, because you
never know when you'll get the
opportunity to write soon again.
It's October & the rain
which set in a few days
ago has almost eased, but
in place of that it has
turned bitterly cold and we
do not know what to do to
keep warm. And moreover
we are not looking forward
with any joy to our next
turn in. Still it has to be
 

2
done & that's all about it
I got two dear letters
from you to-day dated July
31^st & Aug 13^th. I'm  sorry
that cake has gone to
the fishes but still that
really is a very minor thing
isn't it? God, Louie things
are getting awful now - but
surely it can't last long.
But there are many
many bright patches and
such fine men to be with
which compensates a little.
but Im afraid x Australia's
casualty lists will be very
full, soon.
I've been walking up & down
the hut to see if I can
 

3
get my feet a little warmer and
they are too. I think if
I can last out one winter
I can do another so whats
the use of worrying - it never
was worth while.
I wonder if this is the
Xmas mail for you. Perhaps
it is and if so I do
send you all my very
best wishes for such a Merry
Xmas & a Bright New Year. Let
us hope our next Xmas
will be together.
Cheeroh dear. Lots of love &
best wishes. I'm right you keep
the same. Soon be over.
Keith
 

O.A.S.
6/10/17
recd. 13/12/17
Miss L M. Grant
C/o Vict. Fert. Assocn
59 William Street

Melbourne
Australia
[*KMcK Doig*]
 

France
19.10.17
My dear Sweetheart,
Harry & I both
received our parcels safely and in
good order - Harry while I was in
the line (I did not take him up with
me this last time) and I got mine
today when we came out. And I'm
glad to be out. The mud, the
slush and the cold are all here
again. And the shells are getting
thicker & thicker as the weeks go
by, It was a rough trip.
Major Bullen the R.M.O. who ret took
Capt Hughes' place was killed in
his aid-post just over on my
right but altho' the Hun tried
hard to blow mine out I'm glad
to say he was unsuccessful. Our
 

2
A.D.M.S. visited me at my post
and the poor fellow had not gone
twenty yards from me on his way back
when he was killed instantly. I could
not believe or realize ^it at first, for a
minute before he was talking to me
and shook my hands in saying
good-bye. C'est la guerre.
I'm right and fit & well. Harry
had a bath ready for me this
morning and I had a good
sleep last night. It's just wonderful
how little sleep one can do without
and ^how little food one can live on
when one is put to it.
The socks are most welcome. The
shortbread has already. disappeared
and the chocolate is being kept in
reserve for my next trip in the line
The Somme was bad, Bullecourt was
worse, but this place beats all
 

3
But I suppose it's all helping to
win the war and that's what has
got to be done, isn't it?
And otherwise we are jogging
along in the same old way and
we very much appreciate the little
spell here altho' it's going to be short
and still within reach of old Fritz
I believe Jordan McIver has been
evacuated sick - it's a pretty
tough life if you are not used
to it He's not very sick, but
just sufficient to keep him away
from the battalion.
I struck a wonderfully cool
fellow this last time we were in. He
got badly hit when in his post
He immediately asked for pencil &
paper & wrote to his mother. Then he
made his mates take down notes of
the situation which he had taken.
They brought him to my aid-post and
 

4
he said "It's no use Doc, I'll be
out before you can send me to the next
place." I gave him morphia, a hot
drink, dressed his wounds and stopped
the haemorrhage and then he died. But
he was not at all afraid of death
altho' he knew it was so certain.
However forget the war dear. Think
of the most happy time when it is
over and you & I are together - and
dear it will be the better for
what we are missing now.
I'm fit as a fiddle - just a little
tired & knocked out - but I'll be
right to-morrow. Lots of love my
dear sweetheart and all good wishes
and such a big kiss to you
from you ever loving
Keith
[*PR00317*]
[*Australian
War Memorial*]