Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 10

France,

2.4.17

My. dear Louie,

It's jolly nearly three months

now since we've had a rest but they do

say we are due for one in a few days. for

which I'll not be sorry. We are still engaged

in this open warfare, and it's much more

pleasant than the rotten trench life. To-night

there is a very cold wind and it's snowing

heavily, but luckily there is lots of firewood

in these ruined villages and we've a

good fire going. Only one blanket tonight

but I'm quite used to that now and I

sleep like a top. We "stand to" at 4.30am

every morning and wait for dawn, for of

course we must be ready at that time

I'm keeping very fit and well but could 

do a good rest somewhere quite easily.

I had a letter from Woolwich and they said

they had sent on a parcel from you to me

so am looking forward to it when we get

back a bit. Don't know where Ross is 

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now but perhaps may come across him

sooner or later.

Shelter in these villages is hard to get but

it's wonderful what a little work &

ingenuity will do and we soon make ourselves

comfortable. I think I told you in a last letter

how I had my R.A.P. in the ruins of a lovely

chateau in a pretty little village. That was a

few days ago. Was near there today and all of

a sudden a mine went off. Fritz has been

arranging them with clock work and we

have to examine all places very carefully.

He leaves helmets about which when lifted up -

a very great temptation to any of us - explodes a

to bomb. He's a dirty dog isn't he?

I wish I could send you some.

souvenirs home. - german helmets, bombs

etc, but there is no way and one cannot

carry them around while on the move.

How is Micksey? and Floss. Please

tell them I'm thinking of them occasionally

I had a letter from Billy the other day. He

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is still in England - lucky beggar.

And you, dear. How are you keeping? I'm

just longing to hear from you and they say

that there is an Australian mail in soon.

Look dear, Mother will be worrying about me

in view of poor Capt Hughes' death. Please try &

keep her from worrying. I've sent off a cable

to her. but Im afraid she will be very

upset. Still one sees that sort of thing often

and we've just got to on as if nothing happened

Lots of love dear and K.S. There's a good

time coming. Cheeroh. I'm as right as

a bank and hope to continue so.

Bed is calling me. and I must go. More

love from your
Keith

P.S. I'm getting on fine on horse-back

OA.S

Miss Louie Grant

413 Park Street

North. Carlton

Melbourne

Australia

[*KMCK Doig*]

France

5.4.17.

My dear Louie,

Before this advance began and we were doing

the awful routine and monotony of trench life: we used to

get some very nasty shells from a certain part of Fritz's line

That spot was quite near to a sugar refinery - a big

building and when things were hot we always knew that

the guns near the sugar refinery were sending it into us.

On the other hand our people knew Fritz had some of

his guns there and consequently we used to think that that

refinery must have a few shell holes in it.

Yesterday we were relief relieved and it is a pleasure.

to get back, altho' open warfare is not so bad as the other.

It rained, hailed and snowed and we marched back to 

the home of Fritz's guns - the sugar refinery. Then we cursed

'cussed' our own guns. for. they had splattered it and

our home was wet through from the top floor to the cellars.

However we've got everybody to work to-day and what

with tin, wood and tarpaulin everybody is getting more or less

comfortable. Such is the manner in which a battalion goes back

to rest in comfortable billets!

To continue. After. our march we were somewhat tired, not a

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little disgusted, somewhat out of temper, and of course quite hungry

It was then that Harry (he is still with me) brought me.

that big parcel from you with tea, cocoa, tobacco, cigarettes

doll, socks, and a BONZA CAKE, which believe me

is quite the best I've tasted in France and most acceptable

at such a time. So, dear, will you please convey the

gratitude of the mess to the cooks for their noble effort.

The socks with their toe-holes were likewise most acceptable

but I smiled more than once to think of Mother

knitting away, dropping several stitches, then trying to pick

them up, despairing and then appealing to you or Floss

for assistance.

About 1 a.m. this morning I was called down to see a lad who

was fairly ill. He was living in a cellar along with about

one hundred and fifty other men. and as the cellar wasn't big

you may guess they were very crowded. Furthurmore he was away

[[?]] the [[?]] in steering my passage toward

him I could not but help standing on the feet of several

Australian soldiers who were tired & weary. - very weary. They did

not fail to express in their very best Australian (sorry for

the blot) exactly what they thought and consigned me. to a

very hot place. They did not know it was the Doctor however.

I knocked off here and went with the Colonel

for a walk to a neighbouring village as the afternoon

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was very bright and sunny. I made enquiries about

Ross's unit but was told they were right back and

had not moved up. We went out to the main street 

- the Colonel met two friends and started to chat

with them and I met - Ross. He was well and

said he made journeys here every second day so

I've asked him for lunch for the day after to-morrow

It has suddenly struck me that to-morrow is good Friday 

and I wish you all my very best Easter wishes. It's

really strange here for we little think of the day, the date

the month or the year. The story goes that an Australian

was writing home and as he was starting off said "I say

Bill, whats the day?" Thursday. 'What date" 16^th. 'What's the

month?' June. What year? 1916. Thanks.

Haig congratulated our division on holding the longest front

for the longest time of any other British Division since

[[?]] Division. Swank.

Got a short letter from you this afternoon dated 14^th

Feb. but I think there are others to come, for I've

no news from Mother and there is no news about George.

Perhaps they'll come to-morrow.

Cheeroh dear. and. give my best wishes to Floss and

Mickey & Mr & Mrs Dreverman & Allan. I'm as fit

as a fiddle. Much love dear and all good wishes

from your
Keith

P.S. 9/4/17. Arrived

Woolwich on leave from

France. Am feeling

as fit as fiddle. George

not yet arrived. On

the lookout for him

Cheeroh

Keith