Letters from David Gerald Evans to his family, 1917 - Part 1

France
27-1-17.

My dear Mother 
Dont think 
I have written you since

Xmas day so here goes - 
Am at present at an

Army School of Instruction

for five weeks, which is

rather a chuck in at this

time of year; as I have a

good bed and comfortable

room, besides the School is

a really good one.
The work is pretty constant

and covers nearly every thing.
I had a lesson in riding

the other day and we have
another tomorrow at 7.45

rather early at this time of year.

There are a lot of English

Officers here and one of them

2
said this morning. "I do
detest early morning riding
it makes me positively sick"
I had some great fun at
the riding lesson, don't think
some of them had ever seen
a horse before except in pictures.
You must excuse the writing
but my hands are jolly
cold.
Suppose my letters will go a
bit astray for the next month
as I am away from the
Battalion.
This afternoon I am to play
in a Hockey match, they wanted
to make up a team and as
they said I could kick, hit
on anything I thought the
chance too good to miss - 

3
I see in the Times" this

morning that I have been

"Mentioned in Despatches" in

the New Years Honour list, it

is not much when you see

all the military crosses kicking

about but suppose it is

something. Suppose this was

for the raid I took part in -

Somehow I dont feel

inclined to write today so

will ring off and write

again when I feel more

like it. So love to all

Your loving son

Gerald 

D.G Evans

Le Château

Photograph - see original document

CARTE POSTALE
Correspondance
Adresse
This is a Chateau 

near where I am

at time of writing

France 

21-1-17

AWM2017.1366.1 

France
7-2-17.

My dear Mother
I will be
leaving here in a very few
days and have had quite
an enjoyable time, and though
the weather has been cold
and the working hours fairly
long, it has been a jolly good
change and rest -
We have had some good
sport such as wrestling,
Tug of war and musical
chairs on horseback, and
Boxing, I am boxing in
the Officer's heavy weight
Class and have won twice.
I am in the finals, tomorrow
night, and think I have 
a fair chance of winning 

2

I have not had my
December mail yet but
don't know what can have
happened to it, suppose
will get some when I get
back to the Battalion -
I had a letter from Austin
Evans yesterday which I will
answer one day soon -
I will not be sorry to get
back to the Battalion, as it
becomes quite like home, and
one misses everything that
is going on, there are some
grand fellows in my
Battalion and it is almost
worth going to war to
know them.
I will be able to write a
longer letter when I get

my mail.
I wonder if America will

come into the war she 

3

looks very like it now.
This is just a very
small note to tell you

I am very well and

happy  love to all

Your loving son

Gerald
D.G. Evans

O.A.S

31 AU 16

M^rs John Evans

"Redcamp"

Moyhu

Via Wangaratta

Victoria

[*GR Blackman*]

Australia

Photograph - see original document