Letters relating to William George Blaskett, 1916-1919 - Part 10

4

war which a few months ago terrified

the Germans - a tank. The few

shattered trees that still stand, show

how fierce was the fighting before this

ground could be won back from

the invaders, whilst the simpler wooden

crosses dotted here and there, speak of

the men who have paid the great price.

The other sergeant has given up writing

and is about to wash in an old

steel helmet. Its his first wash for about

four days. My turn comes after him.

The wash will be followed by a search

amongst our various garments for those

small friends, who stick closer than

a brother. This occupation is commonly

known as "chatting". Unlike those

folk who toiled all night and caught

nothing, our labors are usually well

rewarded. One man's shirt was 

so well occupied that he put it out

in the snow one night & left the occupants

to freeze to death. It's a barbarous war.

5.

Well, old boy guess I'd better knock

off, as it's my turn out, so will

close, with  very best xxxxx  love to

all at home from your loving brother

Will

Three men were "chatting" their shirts the

other night dropping the catch on the

fire. They put so many out that they

extinguished the fire. Fact. I assure you

France 16/3/17

Dearest Mother/

Was very

glad to receive letters from

you all a few days ago &

to know you are all keeping

well, as I am, with the 

exception of my usual cold.

I was glad to hear Dad saw Roy Jones'

father, & showed him my letter.
Roy certainly was a very fine

man in every way. He & poor

old Bill were two of the best

friends it has been much

privilege to have & my misfortune

to lose, for I'm afraid we

must give up all hope of

Bill. I have heard from 

Roy xxxxx xxxxxxx since he arrived in

England & have written several

times.

2

I went to my first school

as an officer some little while

ago, & am very pleased to

be able to tell you, that the

squad I was in charge of

from this Battⁿ beat squads

from every battalion in this 

division & from two English

Divisions & topped the school.

As you can guess I am

very pleased. All the officers

& men sent to school from our

battalion do well at schools &

we seem to expect to top the 

lists at any school.

The Bn marched through

a village the xxxxx other day

past some of the "brass hats"

and next day the C.O. received

a letter from Capt Bean, the

A I F official correspondent,

saying that he had never

seen a finer battalion even

in the Famous first contingent,

& that in his opinion it was

a battalion that Australia

should be proud of. Some

sense, this Bean's got, believe

me. 

Well, dear mother o' mine,

there's really no news whatever,

xxxxx. You probably know 

more about the war than we

do. I met Harold Ward

a few days ago. We are

billeted near one another

& have spent a fair bit of

time together. Unfortunately, I

havent been able to get out

the last couple of days, as

 

I've had a slight touch of

influenza, but am pretty well

right now.

Had a letter from Aunt June

yesterday & am writing to

her tomorrow.

Must now ring off, with

fondest love to all at home

from your ever loving son

Will

PS

Between you & me, Harold

doesn't look too well; I think

if he was out foot slogging

for a while it would do

him a world of good. He

sits in an office all the time,

& fancies he's being badly

treated. Says it's very monotonous

in the cyclists. I told him it

very exciting in the infantry at

times.

France

18 3. 17

Dear Dad,

Many thanks for your

very nice letters I'm afraid

there's really nothing I can

write in reply as what news

we do get we cannot of course

send on to you, but I thought

you might like a few lines

from me. We seem to

 have bluffed Fritz pretty well

on this front, for there's no

doubt his retirement was

forced by the pressure we have

been exerting for the past few

months. It is very pleasant

to us see the results of

our efforts. Well dad, I

gave mother all the news, I think

The Labor Party have turned

 

out pretty rotten, haven't they?

Still, its what we expect from

the class of person who run 

the party. What's bred in the

bone, - you know the old saying.

Still, I think they have settled

themselves completely now.

and serve them jolly well

right

Well, must close now,

trusting you are well, & work

is good.

Your loving son

Will

Did you ever think when I

used to play with toy soldiers

that I should one day be a

real soldier?

 

France 3.4.17

My dearest Mother/

Received your

letter dated 17 1 17 two days ago.

I had received others of a later

date some little time previously.

Since commencing this letter I

have also received your letter of

31st January, together with one

from Mr Jones.

Things here are 

very much the same with us as 

usual. I expect you know much

more of the war news than we

can tell you, as our information

even could we send it, would 

be just local.

What does Dad

think of the Russian Revolution?

I am hopeful it will have a 

good effect on the way the Russians

2

are conducting their campaign.

They hardly seem to have

come up to our expectations

during the last winter.

The winter is almost past

here, I think, though we have

had quite a quantity of snow

recently; today, however, we have

had a sample of really fine

spring weather.

We are now in country

recently captured from the

enemy; it consists of splendid

grassy slopes and country

unbroken by shellfire, and

is a sight for sore eyes after

the shell torn country further

back.

I am anxiously awaiting

your next letters for news of