Cecil Mills Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 4 of 17

41/  O.A.S
Abroad 
Mrs. C.B. Mills
c/- Dr A Burne
"Kinellan"
Dalley St
Waverley
New South Wales
Australia 
Field Censor Passed 2964

42/
France
17th May 1916

Dear Old Girl
The mail that should have 
closed tomorrow, closed yesterday, so unless some
sort of Postal miracle happens this will not go 
with the other batch. Have had a very easy time 
this week, all the fatigues have been about our 
own billets, so there has been no 11 mile march 
each day. Also got my boots repaired, so now I'm 
quite set up once more.  Today Im off so the 
rear a few miles to attend a 5 days School on 
Bombing. I don't know anything about Bombs, 
so it will be very interesting for me. Hope I don't
blow myself up. The ones that don't know anything 
rarely have an accident, they are always so
darned careful.  Its the "Shrewd lads" that 
think they know all about them that blow themselves
& a few others up at times. Last night we 
had a very jolly evening. Our Regimental 
Doctor, who is a very nice chap named Fergus 
McIntyre a Sydney Uni man, got his 8 days 
leave for England quite unexpectedly the old 
blighters girl is there also, result they are to be 
married tomorrow. We decided to give him a 
party. 30 of us crowded into B Coy's Officers Billet.  
They had a large room about 16' x 16' (oh no, we 
were not crowded) & we had speeches, songs & drinks 
from 1/4 to 8 until 9.30. We had 1doz Fizz & 2 
Bottles of Whisky. The wine cost 7 Francs a bottle. 
I think it is pretty rotten sack, but I don't know 
enough about it to know whether it is good or bad, but

2/ 
it tasted alright. We all put 10 Francs each in, 
300 fr altogether, to buy a Wedding present. As we 
had no time so buy anything, we had to give the Doc 
the cash. We put it in a great big OHMS envelope 
Headed: - War, is War. Underneath this, just a 
bit about, small moments upon the occasion of 
the marriage of Capt McIntyre. Then we all 
signed our names underneath. It will be a 
most unique thing in after years for the Doc to 
have. By Jove, he was pleased about the whole 
show & was as excited as a big youngster.
Poor old chap won't be very pleased though 8 days hence
when he has to leave the girl &  come back to the Regt.
Am rather glad in a way, that I've got no chance
for leave for ages. It must be "filthy" coming back
to the trenches after 8 days in London. The weather
has cleared up the last 2 days & it is glorious once
more. Hope it continues as it is rotten in
wet weather. Flanders mud beats any sort that
Ive struck so far in my short & uneventful
career.  Well Dears, hope you got my cable
yesterday. Will send you another in a couple
of weeks. No more now. Always hoping that
you & the Boy are keeping just the thing, with
heaps of love from your very own old man
Cecil.

42 
Y.M.C.A. 
OAS 
Abroad
  
Mrs C.B. Mills 
c/- Dr A Burne 
Kinellan 
Dalley St 
Waverley
New South Wales
Australia
  
Passed Field Censor 
2964  

43/   
France
Saturday 20/5/16

Dear Old Woman
Just before I left for the
Bomb School two of your dear old letters
turned up. Great wasn't it but better still, there
is also another mail being sorted so there will
probably be more for me when I get back. Where
I am now is simply delightful. it is quite the
prettiest place I've seen since coming up into
the Front Line. We are no distance from a
couple of big towns but one would not guess it.
It is just rural France or Belgium whichever one
likes to call it. Just farm houses, country lanes,
ditches a wee little creek dignified by the name
of a river, hedges everywhere with the May out in
full bloom, all the trees are out in full leaf 
and the fields a lovely green except for the daisies
& buttercups that are everywhere.  It is all very
very beautiful &  peaceful looking, & just a couple
of miles away the daily hate goes on the same as
usual, we hear it all & don't take a bally bit of
notice except to watch the results of the anti aircraft 
guns wapping into the planes. The School
here, is grand. All Australian Instructors, both
Officers & NCOs all out of our own Division also.
Reveille 6/30. First Parade 7/30 till 8. Then Breakfast- 
Next parade cut up into 3 sections 9.15 to 12/45 
then lunch at 1. Afternoon 2 to 5. then we are 
finished officially but of course we put in a bit
of time on our own playing about with grenades re 
-learning a little more about their intricacies.

2/
It is all so interesting specially to me as I knew
practically nothing about grenades previously. What I
don't know now would fill a very large book, but
you'll have to be careful with me when I come home
or I'll be making fireworks to amuse Johnnie
out of jam tins, or any old thing lying about.
This afternoon we had a great game, attacking
a trench, one party holding it & the rest assaulting
with Bombs. We made a lot of bombs that only 
used to make a puff of smoke when they went off.
& it was surprising the excitement created. In 
the first stunt , I was in one of the defenders, my luck 
was right in. We had umpires to decide who were 
casualities of course. I killed 10 of the attackers 
in great style. My bally old bombs seemed to go
to the inch just where I wanted them to go. Got
killed myself in a couple of subsequent goes in, at
least the umpires reckoned I did but personally I
thought I was well round the traverse & out of
danger, but there is no arguing the point about it.
We are getting lovely tucker here. Tea & a biscuit at 7.
Bacon & Eggs & Coffee for Breakfast. Tinned Stuff for
lunch with fruit &  Ideal milk for Cream & for 
dinner soup, meat & veges, usually baked
potatoes & beans & tinned fruits & Ideal again.
Jolly good Australian Cooking at that. Our
Mess only runs into about 3 Francs a day so
we are on a jolly good wicket & we are all sorry
the School only lasts for 5 days. We will all have
to go home on Monday afternoon. Just after I
came away our Company was ordered out on another

3/   
trench digging expedition. They vacated their
billets - camped on the job where they will be living
in dugouts etc. They will return about the same
time as I go back. They will have been roughing it
while Ive been in clover, living in a wee little canvas
hut with a stretcher to sleep on, but as the old
saying goes War is War. Anyhow it was up
to me to dodge the Trench digging as I had quite
enough last time. When the Orders were read out
today by the Commandant of the School:- It was
mentioned that 2/Lt. CB Mills had been appointed
Lieutenant temporarily to complete the establishment.
Expect it to be confirmed very shortly. They all came
out as "Temporary", so now, having no ∧extra stars about
the place, I can make an indelible pencil star on
my shoulder strap. Am jolly glad to get it, as it
was not too nice being a 2/Lt when lots of kids about
22 & 23 were floating round with 2 up. It gives one
a bit more standing also. Won't write anymore
tonight old woman. Will answer your letters tomorrow
night if all goes well. Gave the cutting of S Bond's letter 
to the Sgt of the 20th Battn today. He is an instructor here
& a particular friend of SB's. He (SB) has been sent to
Marseilles on the Baggage Guard, so has got a good
safe job until the end of the War. Your Aunt Edith
will be glad to hear that. Just a great big hug for that
adorable little bit of humanity that belongs to us, 
all my love to my own Dear old Woman because my
love for you embraces the boy also.
Your own old man  
Cecil

Forgot to mention that as per usual I am fit as ever.
over!