Letters from David Gerald Evans to his family, 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2018.785.62
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Nance Dea e 62 Doriver about a week, age with several o eys from hove You are lucky having good Sepsar, and Appedy to be ing to have a good autuning here the last fw days and the 8 mad and frain winter seems hand to beleeve. He bea are in meat heart and appreciate the char at Weather) We a llyes had 1 forwar little ago and when th company was ready to move found Ore plation had a pottall ready to take alongg these men will always play pottall
under Shell Dorry to, say flec Im sampbell was badly hit, but progressing Wil We had an exectyon day yes urday which I suppose will anoque in the history of & Las the Hustralians rin my companys ballat 9e You will be glad to Wm Cosl Weathers very sorry to near you goe not been well have as several letter m Keng. who is quite out seems inclined abrigh to stick to his Battation You must excuse this etter but it is haid to news without offen tell hove Ware the censon Your oving son wraw MAnN
< France 10-6.17. Minneo dear 4 this is goin be a verry rothen. beten I am afraid, as have quite my Fanch at letter lost cting a Good white sinc had any mact from but I was anfull y gas home toue to ger You envle &Utad was sent the day On leave. Father a registerd Have sent letter containing some catting Hoeman cakenton. Came in to see me the other day he has been 11 months in now in the England & is men Chance the Do. a very to hit getting him
remote one fu endosing some photoo Scottand, I had taken in time up there. a great few has not written to te lately but think he B getting on well Hive written siver must tere Fhor fron Test to be brothers Your Af. veral
Nance Wonday tl they dear tath We have, not been able to post any letter ately have And 14 an idea that tay Leyers Might last my the mait too however Missed this one will, get through hope sand it wel Am A1 thing are not Wark Where so nixed uite been, very well & have foer etters lately have, had then rign up to the ead of magy from ather Younnie Cran Wudn. Am Goen1 D. Send a Cable today ssitte Papers Have, that about in last week also 3 Mela the rom some man
X of walking had Have plenty and qute enjay ltery about could walk thought o JA 10 Iwith a todngss Krows when but sptt wile to wriite again cannot write a decent than What is tyants Whether doint Neaytin emust ack in Equpt gone to have just nt i with 44 Have only hut as by this t howr to do it 2 an about ithen o worth when you very at heard last You stay Aid yeater there all the had a year you have 0 At home Wvisitous acleam phit is still with Mhis Battahin ack. Ho99 with the Baugade Hachy Eun Comfan ly are tt ey nice feltow
been. somen thro aken has Kocked what about en Means suppose it s with Fle Wa takeng X vry favorable Arw Noew think yut bond with You i do nish while don't think would en have much Chaance any from gone W. Mrs hou 9 wil in 2 ✓ Wift write to van today hove to Ull tovenin en tat
France 26.8 ta Dear Many thanks for Your letters dated 1st week in fune Your been having had ay lot C rain the Weathers beautiful lately here, has been though, the rain interfered with the fush made a month age as you probably Saw in the papers. have not been in W & Ane Since you wrote the End are having a 0 Splended rest; think the men are yoing a bit State on the continuous drilling and a Eip the to live would do them good not Seen Sen Have
but had a Again Yet from him and he letter is, quive alright ym Macartney Kame to Wee me last Sunday We had a long talk over thing he is a troopen in the 4nH and evidently looks, at life frrom a broobers point of vii he wants to get sug in his Squadron heesh an Oy old friend of gen't is in ommand of it so no doubt they can manage it as you know not to Kew preterred Come o my battalion: perhaps he was right think brothers should not be together at this hame. ovents moving quichly Are here, the Pusseang have done ther best o prolong the indefinitely. but Mai
French the are very fine As and you will have seen have come again at Verdun much, is the Terman's Surprise the Americans are a very Smant looking lot and will no doubt make a difference; the Canadians have done fine work lately hada letter From Charlie who told me All ahout the stock business Stock seem very high and tupfose to be the Huctioneers are making plenty of money- am still pegoing along. with the same Company Apd am Sute alright. you. are all the same HOpe And with best love s all You of loving son atral

France
1-5-17
Dear Father —
Your letter 26-2-17
arrived about a week ago
with several others from home.
You are lucky having a
good season and appear to be
going to have a good autumn.
The weather has been delightful
here the last few days and the
mud and rain of winter
seems hard to believe —

The men are in great
heart and appreciate the change
of weather; we had a hurried
move forward some little time
ago and when the Company
was ready to move I found
one platoon had a football
ready to take along; these
men will always play football 

 

under shell fire —
Am sorry to say Alec
Campbell was badly hit, but
is progressing well — 
We had an election day yesterday
which I suppose will
be unique in the history of
the Australians; I had to
run my Company's ballot.
You will be glad to get
some cool weather & am
very sorry to hear you
have not been well.
I have had several letters
from Ken who is quite
alright but seems inclined
to stick to his Battalion.
You must excuse this
letter but it is hard to
tell news without offending
the Censor. Love to all
Your loving son
Gerald
DG Evans 

 

France.
10-6.17.
My dear Minnie —
This is going
to be a very rotten letter
I am afraid as have quite
lost my punch at letter
writing.
Its been a good while since

I have had any mail from
home, but was awfully glad
to get your cable which
was sent the day I went
on leave. 

Have sent Father a registered
letter containing some cuttings
Norman Pinkerton came in
to see me the other day
he has been 11 months in
England & is now in the 
A.S C so the men chance
of him getting hit is a very 

 

2
remote one —
Am enclosing some photos
taken in Scotland, I had
a great time up there.
Ken has not written to
me lately but think he
is getting on well.
Have written several
letters so must stop
now
Best love from
Your aff. brother
Gerald 

 

France
Monday 17th July.
My dear Mother —
We have not
been able to post any letters
lately and I have an idea
that my last letters might have
missed the mail too, however
hope this one will get through
as I am going to send it well
back where things are not
quite so mixed —
I have been very well off for
letters lately have had them right
up to the end of May from Father
Minnie Evan & Alan.
I am going to send a cable
today if possible.
Have had about 8 papers in
the last week. Also the Melburnian
from home. 

 

2.
Have had plenty of walking
about lately and quite enjoy
I never though I could walk
so far —
Goodness knows when I will be
able to write again, but still
I cannot write a decent letter.
What is Frank Whitty doing
back in Meoyhu? he must
have just gone to Egypt
for the trip.
We are all writing hard in
this hut as we have only
about ½ an hour to do it in -
You were at Killingworth when
I heard last did you stay
there all the winter?
I hear you have had a
lot of visitors at home —
Alec Campbell is still with
this Battalion & Jack Hogg
is with the Brigade Machine
Gun Company they are both
very nice fellows. — 

 

3
This paper has been somewwhat
knocked about in transit
but suppose it will do —
The war seems to be taking
a very favourable turn now
but don't think it will
finish for a good while.
I don't think Ken would have
much chance of getting
home from W.A.
I must ring off now
I don't know when I
can write again.
Will write to Evan today
Love to All
Your loving son
Gerald 

 

France
26-8-17
Dear Father —
Many thanks for
your letters dated 1st week in
June. You had been having
a lot of rain, the weather
has been beautiful lately here;
though the rain interfered with
the push made a month ago
as you probably saw in the
papers.
We have not been in
the line since you wrote
to me and are having a
splendid rest; think the men
are going a bit stale on the
continuous drilling and a
trip to the line would do
them good —
Have not seen Ken 

 

2
again yet but had a
letter from him and he
is quite alright. —
Jim Macartney came to
see me last Sunday, we
had a long talk over things,
he is a trooper in the 4th L H
and evidently looks at life
from a troopers point of view,
he wants to get Ken in his
squadron; Roy McLeish an
old friend of Ken's is in
command of it, so no doubt
they can manage it, as you
know Ken preferred not to
come to my battalion: perhaps
he was right. I think brothers
should not be together at this
game. —
Events are moving quickly
here, the Russians have
done their best to prolong
the war indefinitely, but 

 

3
the French are very fine
and as you will have seen
have come again at Verdun
much to the German's surprise
The Americans are a very
smart looking lot and
will no doubt make a
difference; the Canadians
have done fine work lately.
I had a letter from Charlie
who told me all about the
stock business, stock seem
to be very high and suppose
the Auctioneers are making
plenty of money —
I am still pegging along
with the same company
and am quite alright.
Hope you are all the same
and with best love to all
Your loving son
Gerald 

 
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