Letters from David Gerald Evans to his family, 1916 - Part 5

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on the phone so the
long delayed phone must
have arrived at last.
Suppose Harry & Dick Stanley
have been given a D.C.M. 
or something it must
be jolly handy.
This is not a bad
war if one can only
dodge the few chances
of getting cracker that
are going, we live fairly
well even here in the front
line, we have a cook who
is an excellent forager &
last night had cold roast
beef with three vegetables
& salad with dressing & spring
onions all complete, & we
topped off with stewed rhubarb &
whipped cream.

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Tullet my batman is also
still going strong; they
are both old soldiers &
know their way about.
I wrote to Father the other
day & also to Mother a
few days before.
Think Frank Ridgway is
still in Egypt & likely to
be for some time it must 
be the very devil down on
the Canal now the heat
there is terrible.
They seem to be having
a great go at Verdun the
French will do well if
they can hold the Hun
there.
4
suppose things are fairly
at home now, & they
are hard at work putting
in the crop, the farmers
are very funny here
but they have very fine
horses, most of them only
keep one, & they are very
often bigger than Hero -
Will ring off now
Love to all
Gerald. 

4
[*Will look up at the
first [[?]] [[?]] out how*]
Friday June 2^nd 1916.
My dear Mother -
Since writing
you last we have come out
of the front line and now
have a nice little place to

look after, it is alright; but
a bit lonely for me.
Have not had a letter from home

yet though I got one from 
Australia dated April 17^th the 
last from home was Feb 10^th.
Think the family must have
gone cold on me. I see

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a good many Aust papers
of all sorts & also saw some
W'ratta ones the other day-
It is very nice to get a

good sleep again as one
goes a bit short further or
even now we always must
sleep in our clothes ready
to hop out at a moments
notice. There is plenty of
water about here, so that
one can keep clean which
is a blessing.
I saw a lot of papers today
and see that Cap & Bells &
Ittitox won races in W.A.

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3
I see Mr Langlands is
still making inquiries  about
Bob, it seems funny that
he cannot find out one
way or the other.
It is over eight months
since I left Australia
Some of them have been
away eighteen months.
There is some consolation
in the fact that the first
seven years is always
the worst.
I have not seen Charlie
McCardel lately but
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will look him up at the
first chance & find out how
he is getting on, he looks
very small in his uniform
but is a pretty smart
little chap.
I have been very well
since the mumps attack
and never have a sick
day. I hope you went
away for a spell during
the hot weather, it should
be very nice at home now.
Give my love to everyone
and take tons for yourself
Your loving son
Gerald.

Sunday
4^th June 1916.
[*Give my love 
to all
Your loving son
Gerald*]
Dear Father
I got a letter
from you yesterday dated 20^th Feb
So it was written a long
time ago, however it is
the latest one I have had
from home so was very
pleased to get it, it had
been addressed to Zeitoun
Egypt;

The harvest had just been
finished when you wrote

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but you only mentioned
the yield of one paddock.
I have been expecting to
hear from some of the
boys about crops and anything
or everything that concerns
the place, but don't think
I have received half-a-dozen
letters from them all put
together since leaving Aust
eight months ago; I think
if anyone is sore over
the letter writing I am
not the one to blame.
I am glad you got
through the season without

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having a bush fire, they
would have been very hard
to stop this year.
The grass in among these 
trenches is wonderful
prairie & Cocksfoot mixed with
self sown stuff of all kinds
Three feet high I would
like to take up a run here
for bullocks, but not just
now.
We have just heard of the
fight in the North Sea
the British fleet appears to
have been knocked about,
but it may do them good
to get a bit of a drubbing:
4
The British fleet is wonderful;
the people in Australia cannot
realise its true worth, but
the German fleet will be
dangerous if under rated;
they will come out, when
it suits them; the German
is a wily bird.
The French have been very
good at Verdun.
I will look Bill Usherwood
up at the first opportunity
The people at home cannot
write too much as the very 
smallest things interest me
Lately I have been reduced
to reading old letters over.
Hope you & Mother are very well

France
11-6-16
My dear Mother -
I received a letter
from Father a couple of days ago dated
1^st April. I am glad to hear you are
getting my letters & wish I could say
the same of the letters from home.
However I get a little news from home
indirectly & through papers, the Coy
Clerk always brings me any Wangaratta
papers that come in. I saw two March
Chronicles the other day, one where I had
seen the Evans etc in Heliopolis & one where
Austin Mahony had seen me.
A man in this Battalion came to see me
about five minutes ago, he had a
letter from Nellie Stanley, he got a Xmas
pudding from her on Gallipoli, & in reply
to his letter of thanks. She mentioned my
name; so he came & showed me the
letter, which he was going to answer.
Quite romantic! Tell Edie to get busy on
the Xmas pudding stakes right away.
Father assumed that I knew everything
that is going on when I really don't
know anything. He says Ken is in camp.
[*I would like to know where he is, & what Battalion as soon
as possible. I advised him in the event of enlisting to go to
Victoria, where he would always Know somebody - but
don't suppose he has done this - *] 

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I have been in the trenches for a good
while, and am out for a while now
resting, trench life has agreed with
me & my health has never been
better.
The events lately have been quite exciting
with naval battles etc, I am very sorry
about Kitchener who deserved a better end
The Russians seem to be slapping things
up a bit, hope they keep it going.
The Hancocks must be agressive six
of them going.
I am going to get this letter posted
in England, Captain Hurvey my Coy
Commander is going on leave to-morrow
Enclosed is a one france note, somewhat
the worse for wear. Each little town
seems to have a note issue.
I hear Prince Bardolph won the Sydney
Cup, a bit of luck for Mark Whitty.
I will stop now with love to all u
Your loving son X
Gerald