Letters from Charles Edwin Gatliff to his family, January - September 1918 - Part 5

No 1
4
16.6.18
On Saturday I went with them to the village
& the Brigade Major joined us & a discussion
was then held on the different plans made out
by the officers for holding the village. As it was
supposed to be a company of infantry in
defence it was very uninteresting to me. However
laid on the long grass in the sun
& smoked all the morning. In the afternoon
three of us rode to MERE about 6 miles.
We rode by way of STOURHEAD but
came back by a different route. This
morning I attended church parade which
was about the best I’ve been to. Very often
they are held & you are standing all the
time with scarcely any of the men singing
because of no music & the padre preaches
for too long & if you can hear him properly
he is often a poor speaker. The service this
morning was held in the camp theatre the
band played for the psalms & hymns & the
padre Rev Crotty of Christ Church Sth [[Yarra?]]
preached a very good sermon of short length
This afternoon I am going for a bicycle
ride to Frome about 7 miles from here &
tomorrow after parade intend going to Heytesbury
3 miles away to see the artillery camp.
The country around here is very pretty but
rather too hilly to be pleasant for “biking”
Fond love to all
Your loving son Charlie
 

No 2
1
O.T.B Sandhill Camp
Longbridge Deverill
near Warminster
18.6.18
Dear Father & Mother,
A couple of days ago an Australian mail
came in. I received a letter from Mater dated
19.4.18 & one from Ern dated 16.4.18 the latter
enclosing snaps of the Gatliffs at Sydney. In
both letters mention is made of the way we
boys seem to run across our old friends this
side of the world. here are a few more instances.
In this Overseas training camp passing through I
have met:- Lieut Mat Abson, 1^st Div Inf, who went thro’
my school at Broadmeadows & came over as a reft
officer on the Ceramic on board which he sat next
me at mess. He was in the Savings Bank Elizabeth St
with Frank. Capt McBurnie, 4^th Div Inf, who was a lieut
in the 4^th Light Horse with me at Heliopolis Racecourse.
Capt Gollings, 2^nd Div Arty, whow as a lieut under Frank
in the 54^th Bty. Lieut Storey, 4^th Div Pioneers who was
acting capt & O.C. of the company I was attached
to at Weymouth last year. Lieut Bert Gray 5^th Div
Inf acting as Brigade gas officer here; was in No 12
Coy when I first joined the A.I.F at Broadmeadows.
We used to learn the words of the drill books
together. Hal & Olive have visited his people's
house at Malvern. Capt Roberts 5^th Div Inf of my
school at Broadmeadows was also in opposite bed
to me at No 8 Gen hospital at Rouen. 2/Lt Cato 5^th
Div Arty late QMS 52^nd Bty 2/Lt Hundphries 5^th Div
arty late sgt 54^th Bty. Both there have just received
 

No 2
2
18.6.18
their commissions after doing a 6 months artillery school in
England. There are also several infantry “Coots” of
the 1st 2nd & 3rd Divs here that I have met previously
when doing liaison work. When I was in hospital at
Rouen in the two beds opposite me were Captain
[[?]] & Capt Robert both 5^th Div Inf & both were in
school at Broadmeadows. In London I went to
see the Australian War Pictures run by a chum of
mine Lt Mackenzie. One of his assistants, Stewart,
was a L.H. sgt under me at Broadmeadows, on
the Ceramic & in Egypt. He transferred to the
heavy Artillery, was in France & was then sent back
to Australia & discharged. He then came to England
as a civilian. I went to A.I.F. Hdqrs & got my
paybook audited. Officers can buy uniforms &
equipment from the officers clothing dept but they
are not allowed to pay cash for it - a debit entry
for the amount is made in their paybooks. I
had several entries to be made in mine & one
of them I wanted queried especially as my paybook
had never been checked with my pay ledger account
since I had been in the A.I.F. The pay clerk who
fixed up my book was L/Cpl Dick Wheeler. He was

a L.H. Cpl under me at the same time as Stewart.

He tried to transfer to the Artillery & the Flying Corps
but was medically unfit so got into the Pay Corps.
He is an ex-bank clerk & is a nephew of [[?]]
Chrystal who used to go to Brisbane with Franca
when Edith & I went
 

No 2
3
18.6.18
Yesterday I rode across to Heytesbury where the
Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery (RBAA) is now
camped. Captain Ben Lewis is now there in
charge of No 4 Battery. He was over Frank in the
Savings Bank (at Hoddle St, I think) & was a
lieut under Frank in the 54^th Bty. He & I both
got our captaincies on the same day. With him
in No 4 Bty are Lt Sheedy, also of the 54^th Bty
when Frank had it; Lt Jefferson, who was BSM
under Hal 49^th Bty & lieut under me 51^st bty,
& Lieut Brett late of the 49^th Bty. They are all
on the instructional cadre Lewis & Jefferson are
P.B (permanently unfit) & Sheedy & Brett are
over here for 6 months which are just
about completed. If I were at the RBAA
now I don't think I would apply to be sent
overseas like I did last year when I was at
the R.B.A.A. at Larkhill, but then Larkhill was
an awful place whilst my Heytesbury is a
charming spot. Even the infantry camps last
year were not exactly homes. I was glad to leave
Perham Down & asked to be transferred from
Weymouth to the R.B.A.A. at Larkhill. I am
content to stay at the OTB here until I go
overseas as it is situated in such a lovely
place. I have also got off doing the infantry
work on account of my legs (did anybody
say “old soldier”) so after having attended roll
call, in case my marching orders arrive, I am
 

No 2
4
18.6.18
free to hire "a bike" & go for a ride wherever
I like. I am really having a better time here
than when I was on leave except for 3 facts.
1/ my bed consist of three hard boards on trestles
with 4 army blankets, 2/ there is no nice white
enamelled bath to have a bath in of a morning,
& 3/ the mess is a very poor one all the members
being only here for a few days no one takes
an interest in it. However I am not fussy
& as long as the fine weather lasts I will be
content to stay here. For some unknown reason I
am still here, most of the other officers who
marched in the same day as I did have already
proceeded overseas - I suppose my name has
been overlooked - I am not complaining tho'.
On Sunday afternoon I rode to Frome by
way of Warminster & after staying there for
a few hours seeing the sights & having tea I
rode back here thro' Longleat Park. This
charming park needs a better pen than mine
to describe it also this letter is already of
sufficient length so I will leave the description
until I see you. Today has been unsettled - rain
falling all the afternoon I hope it clears up
by tomorrow as I want to visit Bath then -
bike to Warminster & catch train from there.
Fond love to all
of loving son
Charlie
 

No 3
1
France I 22.6.18
Dear Father & Mother,
On the afternoon of the 19th I hired a bike
at the O.T.B camp & cycled into Warminster where
I caught the 3.32 p.m. train to Bath. It arrived there
about 4.30 p.m. & ^as it was daylight until 9.8 p.m,
when I had to catch a train back to camp, I
had nearly 5 hours to see the sights of Bath.
I visited the main item of interest, the Baths &
Grand Pump Room with the old Roman ruins adjoining,
first & then had a look at the fine old Abbey &
then visited the principal parks & promenaded the
main streets. I took a tram to Beechen Cliff which
is on the S W side of the city. From its summit a
fine view of Bath & the surrounding country can be
obtained. It was a lovely summer day so I had
a very enjoyable trip. On the 20th I caught the
3.32 p.m. train & arrived in Bristol about 5 p.m.
I was not so fortunate with the weather
this date as a strong was blowing with slight
showers during the afternoon. So when I went
to the Clifton Suspension Bridge my view from
it was not as good as it would have been if it
had been fine. I then went for a walk over the
Clifton Downs - I love the English woodlands
scenery in Summertime better than any other sort of
sight seeing & with my old pipe in my mouth I
never tire of the beauty of "God's green world".
Owing to Clifton being a fair way from the station &
the last train from Bristol leaving earlier than from Bath
 

No
3
2
I 22.6.18
I stayed at an hotel opposite the Bristol station
overnight & caught the 6 a.m. train back next
morning. Bristol itself is a dirty city being like
Glasgow a large port & manufacturing centre. The
cathedral is a fine old building & some of the churches
are old & interesting. The Cabot Tower & an old gateway
of the one-time city wall about complete all there
is to see in Bristol. After attending roll call
yesterday morning & not receiving any marching orders I
was in my room debating where I would go for my
afternoon jaunt when an orderly came to me with an
order that I had to at once report at Hdqrs for my
railway warrant to proceed overseas. I was "caught on
the hop" for I had to walk 1/2 a mile to Hdqrs (it was 11.15
a.m.), pick my kit, arrange a motor, have lunch & catch
the 1.40 p.m. train at Warminster. Generally we get
warned one day, our kits are taken to the station the
next & we proceed on our journey the day after. Two
two other officers were given short notice like myself but
the rest of our party of 13 received their notice two
days previously. We arrived in London about 5.30 p.m.
Stayed there the night & then caught the ordinary leave
train to Folkestone. We stayed there for several hours
waiting for the boat to sail I spent the time pleasantly
sitting smoking in a  deck chair on the promenade listening
to a fine string band playing the latest music. On
arriving we had to come out to this vet camp
for the night & proceed to the AIE base tomorrow.
Fond love to all
Your loving son Charlie
 

No 5
1
France 2 1.7.18
Dear Fathers & Mother
I am still at our Base altho’ I
thought I was going to proceed to rejoin
my unit a couple of days ago. That morning
at the 9 o’clock officers parade we were all
told to hold ourselves in readiness as all
available officers were to depart, that
afternoon. At 1.30 p.m. the others got their
orders but for some unknown reason I did
not get any. I’m not complaining - I am
not anxious about returning - I had my
lesson last year when I applied to be sent
back & arrived in time for the October
stunts at Ypres. I am satisfied that no
matter how badly off one is it can always
be worse. Anyhow I am having a splendid
time in the camps this trip, partly because
I am a Captain & partly because of the
glorious weather. I generally go into Havre
every day after finding out about marching
orders & I know it very well now. I have
been on the trams to all the suburbs &
several times to the beach. Yesterday
being Sunday they were matinees at the
cinemas so I went to the Select Palace &
saw a good picture show. There are a
couple of variety halls but they are rather
low class. The evening shows start at 8 pm
or 8.30 & finish at 11:30 p.m or midnight
 

No 5
2
2 1.7.18
so as our last tram to camp leaves the
Hotel de Ville at 10 p.m. we have no chance
of going to see them. The other night we had
an air raid alarm & waited on parade from
12.30 to 1.45 a.m. ready to march out of camp
into the adjoining woods. The Gothan however
did not come as far as our pat of the world.
I expect it will be nearly a week before I
reach my battery. I thought it would
be only a week after going into camp in
England & wrote to our Base P.O. telling
them to send all my letters to the battery.
Consequently I will be nearly a month
without receiving any letters. A 4^th Div
Arty officer came into camp today & he
said that my Div Arty is now out
resting so that means Hal & Tom are
having a spell. Two of my old 51^st
Sgts, Wonad & Waring, & one of 50^th, Weller,
are here, also several of my old gunners.
Now that I am back in France I
cannot write freely about my movements
Soon I will be writing you about the
war, while I have been away from
the line I have tried to avoid writing
about it.
Fond love to all
Your loving son
Charlie
 

No 6
1
France 3 4.7.18
Father & Mother,
We left the Aus Gen Base Depot last
night about 6 p.m & after travelling by train
all night arrived here at 11 a.m. this morning.
This is the 4^th Army R.A. Refts Camp. From here
we will most likely proceed to our Aus Corps
Refts Camp tomorrow. This is the most ideally
situated camp I have ever seen. Our tents are
pitched in a wood on the top of a hill from
which a lovely view of a very fertile valley,
rich with crops of every description intermingled
with small woods + copses, can be obtained.
The camp itself reminds me very much of
the place where Frank had his wagon lines
situated at Favreuil near Bapaume in June last
year. This is a “Tommy” camp & one thing I must
say about the Tommy officer he does know now to
make himself comfortable. As my train was
entering the station here it held up a motor at
the railway crossing. I was looking out of the carriage
window when someone in the motor said “Hullo
Charlie”. He came along to the station to see me
It was Lieut Harold Williams who went thro’
the L.H. school with me at Broadmeadows. He
took the 14/4 LH Refts to Egypt. The 4^th L.H Adjt ^there
wanted me to take the 1st Reft of 25 men to B
squadron which had gone to France, but I said
I was being transferred to 5th Div. Arty. Lieut
Williams took the draft instead. As B squadron