Letters relating to William George Blaskett, 1916-1919 - Part 4

3232 Sgt WG Blaskett,
48^th Bn
10^th August 1916
My dear Mother
I am writing this from
No 4 General Hospital at Etaples near Boulogne
and am hoping before long to be in
England. I got a slight shrapnel wound
in the back which will keep me out of
action for a week or so. Bill was hit
soon after we went into action but I
didn't see him. The boys said his was
only a slight wound and I am hoping
to get some trace of him shortly.
Our battalion was very
unlucky. I believe our casualties are quite
as large as, or larger than any other
Australian Battn up to date in France.
Naturally, I cant tell
you very much owing to censorship but
I can tell you that modern warfare is
horrible. I don't think any of us will

2
be altogether sorry if we never hear another gun
fired. I shant anyway, practically every
man we had got hit and I was very lucky
to get out so lightly. It seems as if a 
special Providence is watching over me, for 
it is twice now within a few months I 
have been hit and both times could
have been very much worse. I was 
began bending over one of our lads,
bandaging his wounded leg for him when
a shrapnel shell burst just over the trench
and I got a piece in the back. If I
had been standing upright, I should
probably have had my head blown
off. We were occupying trenches, (or 
at least what little was left of them)
that our boys had just captured, and
the enemy knew the range to an inch
and could put shells right into the
trench. I am convinced that the
Germans realise they are beaten for their

3
infantry hardly ever show fight and seem
only too glad to be taken prisoner. I
"collected" a beautiful German bayonet,
with belt scabbard & a kind of sabretache
complete, but unfortunately when I got
hit couldnt get it away. The original 
owner & I had a slight argument about
the transfer, but I introduced the "Savage"
into the discussion & won "hands down".
The "Bosche" is luckier than I am for
he'll see no more of this war.
A lot of the boys are going to "Blightly"
and I hope to go in a day or so. It's 
very tantalising to be so close to home &
not get there.
Later
Have just been to get the wound
dressed & from what the doctor says I
don't think I shall get a trip. I
I hope I do anyway.

I trust you are all well at home
Don't worry about me. You can guess
it's not a serious wound, when they
are keeping me here.
I think "Fritz" is fighting with his
back to the wall now & trust it will soon
be over 
Now I must close with love to
all from your everloving son
Will

10-8.1916

4th General Hosp
France
Sunday 13/8/16
Dear Mother of Mine,
My surroundings as
I write now this my weekly letter are the
most peaceful I have experienced for a
good many Sundays past. I am still
at the Hospital, and going on well.
I am writing this in the recreation room,
a delightful place containing many books
of every description. You can guess a
large part of my lazy day is spent in
here. It seems difficult to realise that
just a week ago I was in one of
the fiercest bombardments of the war, a
bombardment which caused ^to Australia
the loss of some of the finest soldiers
she has yet produced. Of course,
everyone thinks his own battalion the
best, but there is no doubt that the

2
48^th was a very fine body of men. Our C.O.
Colonel Leane D.S.O, Military Cross, is acknowledged
to be one of the most skilful soldiers Australia
possesses. He is besides a man of great
personal courage & is very popular with us all.
Wherever we went we were congratulated
for our behaviour & efficiency & complimented
upon our physiques. We were the crack
battalion of the division & got the post of
honour with terrible results to ourselves.
But there's one thing we can claim. The
Germans can kill us with their artillery
but they can't break our the spirits of those
of us who are left as their infantry
found to their cost when they attempted
to retake the captured ground. It
must have been a wonderful sight to
see our boys, many of them wounded
fighting like wildcats. The Germans
evidently thought a lot of us for they

3
didnt fight for long but soon surrendered,
the cowardly dogs. We are just beginning
to realise how many good comrades we
have lost. Bill was wounded very early I
am told. (I was some way from him &
things were in an awful muddle, so I
couldnt say for certain what happened). I
am making enquiries for him. Somehow,
I feel lost without the dear old chap.
One remarkable thing about this
fighting is the fact that though I must
have seen some hundreds of dead &
wounded Germans, I didnt see one German
officer. They're conspicuous by their absence.
They do not even lead their charges,
but just issue their orders & send the
men over. No wonder their charges are
half hearted. Our officers xxxx were
splendid, which unfortunately accounts
for the large number of officers killed,

4.
wounded & missing.
One rather peculiar incident
occurred. When we captured the first
batch of prisoners we were of course all
curious about their equipment &c. On their
belts are the words "Gott mit uns". One
of my lads said to a German, who spoke
a little English "God's with you" is he?"
"No" said the Bosche "God Almighty's dead".
I think that shows the state of feeling of
the enemy now. Since I have been a soldier
I have had two remarkable proofs of the
fact that God is not dead. The first one
at Habieta in Egypt on May 11, when I
had such a wonderful escape in that
gun accident & the second a few hours
after the German made that remark, xx
when I was wounded, for if the
shrapnel had been an inch to the
left it would have hit my spine.

5.
I don't think I need tell you what the
result would have been. Narrow escapes
are so common that one is apt to forget that
God's protection is over him ^& to take them as a matter of course. But when you 

send sit down calmly & think about things
You realise that God is indeed good & does
answer prayer for I know how much you
must pray for my safety. Of course some
people might say its easy for you & me
to believe in God's protection, because so
far I am xxx safe. But if anything should
happen, I want you to try & think that
God knows best. I am sure you will do so.
I always ask God if possible to let me
return to you all safe & sound but I add
"Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done,"
& I try to pray it sincerely.
Now dear Mother I must finish this
letter. Will write you another in a few