Cecil Mills Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 17 of 17

5                                            
Later 
Now to have a look through your  
last letters that up to the present 
I've had no chance of answering.  
I feel sure all your parcels have  
come along safely & by jove they 
have been acceptable. Hope you  
won't think it awful of me, but  
I've given nearly all the fags away  
the last few days. My mens things  
were getting very off, so now some  
chaps that never had such a  
thing in their lives previously are  
floating round in silk shirts  
and beautifully knitted socks. Just  
kept enough for myself & then  
Harry gave me a lovely lot of  
stuff also. The result is that  
everyone in my Platoon at  
present has a good shirt & a  
good pair of socks & that is a  
jolly sight more than most  
Platoon Comdrs in our Battn can  
say. [[Ocopessic?]] what is there to  
worry about is Johnnie falling out  
of bed. He will probably do it  
hundreds of times in future, it is 

6\ 
a thing all kids do. Used to make a hobby 
of it myself, hereditary again. 
About your coming to England, 
think I mentioned in one of my  
previous letters, that at present 
it was "no bon". We cannot get 
any leave & will not get any 
until this disturbance is over, 
which, judging by all one can gather 
will not be very long. When it is  
over, all we want is a quick passage 
back to Australia, anyhow I'd be  
scared stiff for you to travel 
until the War is over. You must 
certainly come part of the way to 
meet me. Would not like anyone  
to be about when we meet again, who  
would want to speak to me even. 
Of course where to come to depends 
upon how I come home, if a  
transport, we might not put into 
any Ports at all but go direct  
to Melbourne. This however can 
very easily be arranged by Cable. 
No more just now, been sent for.

7/    Sunday Night 
Your Cable 29th May reached 
me this afternoon. After your 
letter telling me you had sent it. 
Was posted on to me from Egypt. 
One would think the silly blighters 
would have sent it to France instead 
of Egypt. Anyhow although it did 
not come about "the day" I knew 
quite well your thoughts were with 
me all the time. Have rather got out 
of the way writing impersonal 
sort of letters. Forget that in things 
that are for you alone but as  
long as you let the others know 
how things are going that is all 
that is required. Think the enlargement 
of that snap is simply wonderful. 
Gave the chap that took the photo 
the copy you sent me. He was awfully 
pleased to have it. He was my 
Platoon Sgt. But is now Coy Sgt 
Major. So little Helen is engaged 
to Bingle. A couple of chaps in 
my Coy (officers) know him & say 
he is a very nice fellow.

8/ 
One of our chaps came back from 
the Base Depot where our kits are 
stored. They have moved the Depot 
to England. Lance Corporal Bond  
is still with the Depot as 20th Btn. 
representative. This chap reckons 
old Bondy is a fine old fellow. He 
must have done very well & it is 
really marvelous how a chap of 
his age, they say he is 60, has stood  
all that was coming his way a jolly 
sight better than most of the 
young chaps. Posted your letter 
on to Schuchard, do not know 
whether he has got back to his Regt 
or not but sent to his last address. 
We have had 3 great feeds today 
Tinned Sausage, Eggs & "Chipped Potato" 
for Breakfast, Baked Rabbit (9 Francs 
a pair) & Tinned Fruit for lunch. 
Lovely Pork Chops for Tea also lettuce 
& Spring Onions. Not too rotten for 
Sundays Menu on Active Service 
with the guns roaring like Blue Hell 
a few miles in front.

9/ 
John seems to have a good  
appetite. Am glad you have not 
to depend on a separation allowance 
of 4 ½^d per day to feed the young man, 
he would not get full rations. 
Am not picking up French at all. 
Find I'm a terrible mug at languages. 
Not having to battle round with the 
French villages prevents me from 
picking it up I suppose. The Batmen 
have to rush round buying our tucker 
for us & we do not come into contact 
with French Soldiers to any extent. 
They are not operating in our locality. 
If a chap had only been able to parle 
vous a bit before coming, one could 
have improved quickly. Have always 
got plenty to do & really no time to 
try and study it, altho it would be so 
very handy. You will have to do 
all the talking French for us both 
when we journey this way together. 
Jolly sorry to hear of your Father 
being so very off colour again 
Do hope he soon gets quite well 
once more & relieves you all of the anxiety

10/  
regarding him. John is getting on 
marvellously, Suppose he makes you 
about 1000 times more anxious 
than young Bill Mills used to make 
us when he used to have his hair  
breadth escape of knocking chips 
off the dining room table with his  
head. Well old woman, the last 
letter that came from you was 
dated 3rd June. I am so glad my 
Cable reached you at the right time  
& that you did not get "down" Was  
very worried at the time, knowing 
how you always pay such particular 
attention to Anniversaries, but it 
will be the only 3rd June we are  
apart I trust. Next one we will 
have a really celebration. 
Of course you knew long before this 
that Ive never been to England but 
if ever I do get there will mention 
it specially in the Cable. We were 
out having a look at the Strafe 
last night. By Jove our chaps 
were giving it to them good & 

11/ 
solid. We heard that one of our 
Divisions was in the attack after 
the Bombardment. There was just one 
continual roar of artillery. We have 
not heard any particulars of the 
Battle today, but the Bombardment 
is very solid again tonight. As soon 
as the Division now in comes out, we 
expect to go in & do our bit gave all 
hope to do it well. Don't like writing  
about War to you old girl, it is very  
dirty usually. I'll tell you all you 
want to know later on. But I do 
expect to be fair unto the big offensive 
very soon now. If I come out of it 
safely, I will be very lucky, but you'll 
have another cable long before you 
get this letter, to know that Im OK 
or otherwise. No more now old Wife 
but just all my love to you & our boy 
Your ever loving Husband 
Cecil.

61/ 
O.A.S. 
Abroad 

Mrs C.B. Mills 
C/ Dr. A Burne 
"Kinellan" 
Dally St. 
Waverley  
New South Wales 
Australia 
  
PASSED FIELD SENSOR 2964

France 
2:8:16

Dear old Fairy Wife 
Just another 7 days to go 
to your Birthday. Hope I'll be able to write 
to you again before then. Well old Dear, we know 
what War can be now. It is something more 
awful than any of us imagined. We are in the 
big Offensive fairly up to our week in it. I am 
now 2nd in Command of my Co & that is rather 
a big step unfortunately. If I get through the 
next couple of days without getting cracked, will be 
pretty safe for a good spell somewhere to rest & 
reorganise. Am keeping my Pecker up OK & am 
standing the strain as well as most. Having for 
my Months, The good old one. Always Merry & 
Bright. Your dear old letter of 10th June No 83 
came along today, & with it this bit of Paper  
so Im able to write. being out in Reserve resting. 
Go in again tomorrow take charge of the whole Coy. 
In the hop over the other night, our Battn did 
wonderfully well & we have recd congratulations  
from all the High Officials. Has the [[coming?]] with Harry 
before we left our last Billet. God Bless you & our Boy 
old sweetheart. Will Cable you as soon as I can If I 
come through OK. Your loving husband  
Cecil.

I think I missed number 60 
it is not marked off my list. 
C/

62/ 
O.A.S.
Abroad 

Mrs C.B. Mills 
C/ Dr. A Burne 
Kinellan 
Dalley St. 
Waverley 
New South Wales 
Australia 
  
PASSED FIELD SENSOR 2694  
CBMills Lt