Letters from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his family, March - December 1916 - Part 1

N^o . 4 Auxilary Hospital
Abbassia
Egypt
5.3.16
Dear Father & Mother
You will see by the above address
that after 11 months in the A.I.F. without having
attended a single sick parade I have landed in
hospital. Nothing serious I am thankful to say - only
that blooming child's complaint mumps. It is very prevalent
here at present - there are about 12000 cases in hospital large
numbers arriving daily from all the different camps. At first
they were kept in this isolation hospital for 3 weeks
but owing to the large number of cases & also to the hot
weather setting in they are being discharged after 12 days
or so, unless the case is serious. My case is pretty mild & if
it hadn't shown on my face I would not have reported it
but I am thankful now that I did as since I arrived
here I have learnt that complications down below are
brought on my walking about & not laying up   This ward
holds 6 officers & when I arrived there were 4 officers
already here & three out of the four had complications - two
of them pretty badly so I have been content to take
things very quietly. Yesterday the remaining bed received
an occupant. He is a Captain Smith the medical officer at
the Light Horse Camp at aerodrome. The day before he came in
the 4^th L.H. details moved over from the Racecourse to where
he was camped  So he & I both belong to the same camp
now. I came in here on Wednesday March 1^st - March
seems to be my hospital month as it was March last 

year that I went into the Melbourne Hospital  The [[4th?]]
Light Horse _∧Regt were to have moved off for the Canal
on Friday - the details as before mentioned going over
to Aerodrome to be attached to the 1^st Brigade details
for training & discipline. I had not received word
for some time from the Camel Corps - was sort of
marking time - one of our 4^th L.H. officers was trying to
get a company there & if he was successful he was
going to take me with him as his adjutant. I hope
nothing happens while I am in hospital.
There is a big concentration of troops at the Canal
but I think the Russian invasion of Armenia has
upset the Turks plans & there is now not much
fear of a Turkish invasion of Egypt. After two or
three more weeks it will be impossible for them to
attack the Canal as sandstorms & lack of water will
prevent them. That will then free a large number
of our troops & there are all sorts of rumours as
to where we will then be sent - some say
Flanders & others Mesopotamia. If it is Flanders
we (the derails) who are left behind may get a chance
as it only needs one smash up there for all of us
to then get into the Regiment.
Fondest love to all  Hope you are all keeping
well - especially Edith
Your loving son
Charlie
1DRL 309
 Write to same address as before. C.

Somewhere in France
9-7-16
Dear Father & Mother
I have been for the last
week about 20 miles behind
the firing line. Tomorrow I go up
into the trenches. Battery commanders
including Hal & Frank went
there yesterday to see the positions
we have to take up. Hal has been
somewhere near me all the time but
Frank has been separated from us
for about 3 weeks. I have not seen
him since his arrival here but am
going to ride to where his battery
is billeted this afternoon.
France is a beautiful country at
this time of the year especially
the South of France.
Hal & I are both well & I believe
Frank is the same. Have had no
letters from Aus for ages.
Fond love to all
Chas.
Have sent copy of this
to Em. 

Place Somewhere in
N^o 4 France
12.15 P.M. 19-7-16
Dear Mother & Father
We go in action at 1 P.M. firing
for a great number of hours. So as Fritz
is great on retaliation am scribbling a
few lines. Have had a rather exciting time
the last couple of days since my return
from the school - a big "stunt" (operation)
was projected that was why we were
withdrawn from the school. The first day
here I went as F.O.O. (forward observation officer)
to our front (fire) trench to register our artillery
targets. The night before, when we arrived here, the
enemy "strafed" us so terrificly (or is it terrifically)
On arriving back at our gunpits Fritz started shelling
us with H.E. (high explosive). The captain & I were behind
a ^low wall & each time we heard a shell coming we used
to duck. We all have steel helmets now. Once when we
ducked we were facing each other & the rim of his
helmet caught me on the bridge of the nose & took some
skin off. Later on during the night we had a gas alarm
& had to blaze away with our guns - with gas helmets
on & in the dark it was a bit awkward. Next
day I had to go as F.O.O again. Fritz gave us a
warm time as he was shelling the communication
trench. We just got past the spot when he put
a whole salvo (battery of guns all firing at once) of H.E.
"big stuff" into it. We fired a lot of rounds & 

2     4    19.7.16
did good work but just at the last one of our
own shells burst on the top of the dug out a couple
of feet in near & we were showered with pieces
of concrete. About 3 shots later another defensive
shell burst overheard & we were treated with a
shower of shrapnel  Fortunately without anyone
being hit one bullet sent one of my telephonists putty
& three went alongside
the Sgt & myself thus.

Diagram - see original noting locations of sand bag and parapet
& then stopped the battery firing. We again
fired in the late afternoon but I was with the
battery firing. Fritz retaliated but did no
damage to us. In the morning I was awakened
by Fritz shelling some of our aeroplanes & the pellets
were dropping all around us. One hit our clerk alongside
me on the top of his tin hat. When were having tea
last night Fritz sent 8 "whizz bangs" at us. In the
scramble for cover I got a terrific kick on my poor nose
by one of the other officers so I am a pretty object just
at present. We had a couple of gas alarms last
night. It is now 12.45 & I have to grab a few bites of
grub & get into position for firing our night section
Copies of this note up to this line to Lit, Croydon & Evans.
Mater's letter 28.5.16 just received. Hal
also recd 2 letters from Mater. I read a letter
from Wilf & Hal pc from Wilf
Love to all
Chas

1   France  5
5.30 A.M.   20/7/16
Dear Mother & Father
Our stunt started at 1 P.M yesterday
when our artillery opened fire. At 8 oclock
the infantry charged the enemy's trenches.
We have been blazing away all night - our
lads have done the same old trick - gone
too far.  After we had bombarded the
trenches for some time we lifted our fire so
as to form a curtain xxxxxxx between
them & the enemy's reserve. They were
told to only go a certain distance but
went on & ran into our fire - we had to
lift our fire 3 times to clear them. I was
rung up by the adjt & told that I had to
go as F.O.O. today at 7 oclock (a.m.) When
there is no stunt on each battery sends its
own F.O.O. to observe its fire but when a big
stunt is being carried out only two for
the whole group of batteries is detailed. We
had a hot time last night & lost about
8 men (by "we" I mean my battery). We are
still pounding away forming our curtain
"barrage" as it is called. Will now close
Goodbye Fond love to all
Your loving son
Charlie 

2    5
21.7.16
Dear Father & Mother
Back again safely after my 24 hours
F.O.O.  Alas! the victory was short lived &
at a terrible cost. On my way to the trenches
yesterday morning I heard that our lads had
been driven back from the German's to our
own trenches. Men _∧Lieut Webbe & I xxx reached Battalion hdqrs,
where we are supposed to stay - we are really
there as a link between the infantry & artillery -
(liasion officers) the enemy were bombarded
our communication sap. heavily. After they
had slackened their fire I went to the fire
trench. I cannot describe what I saw - 
killed & wounded were seemingly in greater
numbers than the living  No man's land
which is only about 90 yds wide here was
strewn with bodies - a lot were only wounded
but were keeping very still. Will write
more in a day or so. Was late in getting
relieved - had to report at group hdqrs &
then called in at Hal's battery he is OK &
so is Frank. Whilst there a message came that
he had to send an officer & 2 N.C.O.'s to take
over a new position so I buzzed back here &
have now to go & take over our new position
Best & good wishes to all & fond love
from Your loving Son
Chas 

Place 7
Address letters  51^st Battery
Field Artillery
Australian Imperial Force
France
24/7/16
Dear Father & Mother,
After two days comparative comfort
in a position in a deserted village we
have returned to the area where the
late strafe was - not to the same position
as that got untenable. Have not seen Frank
or Hal the last few days but have heard
from headquarters that they are both well.
The battery which took over from us yesterday
had as one of its officers Lieut G. Lee
late with me in my old regiment. Most
likely he is at this moment taking things
easily lying on my stretcher in my room.
There is a garrison post at a cross roads
about 100 yds from this position & some
of my old regiment (minus horses) are
garrisoning it & I often see some of the
cyclists (of the same regiment) doing traffic
duty on the main road near here. Strange
that I should see so much of them
over here. Please let me know whether you
receive these copies in a readable condition
If you do it will mean that I can write the 3
of you at once (Lil Croxton & Em) & at fair length
when otherwise I would only be able to write a few
lines or else not at all   Fond love to all   Chas 

France   Place 3
10.8.16
Dear Father & Mother
Am far away from the roar of
battle - am at the artillery school again.
Don't think I will be recalled before the
course is finished this time as there
is to be a bit of a "stunt" tonight
back with my lot yet they let me
come here. It is lovely & quiet here -
it is hard to believe that there is
a war on & that we are only a few
miles behind the firing line. What
I will appreciate most here will be
the 14 lovely nights of unbroken sleep
I ought to be able to do quite a lot of
letterwriting while I am here & will try &
bring my letterdiary up to date. The chateau
grounds here are very picturesque & are
looking well at this time of the year -
late summer. I rode to both Hal's &
Frank's batteries last night & saw them
before leaving -;   they are both in
splendid health!   I am also very well
& trust all at "Croxton" are.
Fond love to all
Your loving son
Charlie 

3    France
23.8.16
Dear Father & Mother
The course of instruction has
finished & I am off back to the
trenches today. Yesterday afternoon
after we had finished I went in for
a little relaxation I played a couple
of sets of tennis - the only time I have
been on the courts here. At mess we
had a little speech making & afterwards
a Pierrot troupe from the N^o. 4 Gn Hospital
came here & gave us an excellent evenings'
entertainment. The course only consisted
of 10 days & as there is such a lot to learn
in artillery it was all too short xxx
still it is not a school but only a
refresher course as the work we are
doing at the gunpits is really garrison
artillery work & as some of the field
artillery have been in or near the same
position for the last 18 months they have
forgotten a lot of their mobile tactics.
It has been a great change from the
irregular hours & constant strain of life
"in the line" & I feel splendid as a result
Fond love to all from
Your loving son Charlie