Letters from Robert Mactier VC to his sister Belle Crawford and other papers, c.1912-c.1962 - Part 4










France
May 3rd 1918
Dear Belle
I'm not sure if I've
answered your letters of the mail
before this one if not this will do
for the two as another mail came
in yesterday. We are now out of
the line (as the trenches are known
but don't know for how long
we were 60 days without taking
off our clothes for a rest at night
but for all that we didn't have
too bad of a spell spin. I was
speaking to Dick Wells this morning
& he was telling me he had a letter from
Sam this mail he looks well. My
word young Jim must be a rogue
now I'd like to see him. I guess he's
a fine wee man now. Well Belle we
had a great splash in a lake near
here this afternoon but jove it was
cold & after that it was pay so the
troops are in good cheer.
Last night I went up to the 22nd & saw
Don & Andy & Billie was there also so
we swoped letters, we always do if
we are near each other, when the
mail comes in. It has been very
warm here these last few days.
Yesterday we marched about sixteen
kilometres & the perspiration
just steamed off us.
Well Belle the mail is
being collected so Hooroo
Your affec bro
Bob Mac
France
May 13th 18
Dear Belle
Just a letter card to
thank you for the parcel [[Feb 2?]]
which you kindly sent me. It
arrived in champion order both the
shortbread & cake. Did I tell you I'm
now a scout in the headquaters of our
Company there are three of us with a
Cpl & its not a bad stunt either
roaming around no-man's land
I told you this Belle to let you know
we had a jolly good feed as one
hasn't so many friends to share
it with. I also got a parcel from
home so I got tobacco this time all
the same. & enjoying a good smoke
while scribbling this. I saw quite
a lot of local chaps before I came up
the trenches this time. Jack [[?]],
Leo Robbins, Bill [[D?]], Don Kennedy, [[Jack?]]
Crawford & all the Bohn lads all wish
to be remembered to you Well Bell
I must conclude as space is
getting short. Kind regards to
Jim Sam & Yourself Your affec [[?]]
Bob
O.A.S
[*FIELD POST OFFICE
17 MY
188*]
Mrs S J Crawford
"Belmont"
Tatura
Victoria
Australia
[*PASSED
BY
CENSOR
No
4581*]
Somewhere in Fr
May 22nd 18
Dear Belle
Just a wee note thank
you for your parcel which you sent
me Feb 2nd I got [[?]] last night five
three from home, yours, & one from [[Jean?]]
Bohn & [[Mrs Mall?]] Got a big one with
eight tins of tobacco & I got this came
in mine & as there are only three
of our Cobbers now as I'm in the scouts
we are well set for a while. Tres
bon, as the Froggie say for very good. Jove
its getting fairly hot here now
Belle, we are camped near a
river just now & have a splash
every night, so its not so bad is
it. Div. brigade had a successful
raid the other night & our Cpl
scout was killed, he was one of
the best Ive met over here & I'm jolly
sorry to have lost him. I suppose
Young Jim is as big a trick as ever
Does he still like Sunday School
Haven't seen the Bohn lads yet
but will look them up as soon as
poss. Will conclude Kind regards
to Sam & Jim & yourself from affec [[?]]
Young Jim
is as hard a case as I think
he would be, he must be a
fine little fellow now. Does
he want to go to school yet
Mam tells me he loves Sundays
I had a note from Joan Chestnut
Mr C hasent be too well Mrs C
has a lot of worry upon her
menfolk hasen't she. How is
Bob's arm Does he get the
full use of it yet.
Our Battalion, are having a
swimming Carnival this afternoon
we are camped beside a
beautifull lake Three mates &
I are to represent our coy in
a pun race the oars are
shovels. I guess it will be
funny. its more for a joke
than anything else. I haven't
seen the Bohn lads or Jack [Cr?]
for about a month but hope to
do so soon. It's beautifull
weather here now as it is getting
well into the summer ye ken!
I had a letter from Lillie [[?]]
& Uncle Henry is not at all
well. Well Belle how are
all the folk around
Tatura Saw Geo Robbins & he was
asking kindly after Sam & Jim
Will have to conclude
Trusting this finds you
absolutely in the best of health. [[?]]
Sam & Jim. Your aff bro Bob.
O.A.S.
[*FIELD POST OFFICE
24 MY
18
188*]
Mrs S J Crawford
"Belmont"
Tatura
Victoria
Australia
[*PASSED
BY
CENSOR
No
4581*]
Somewhere in France
May 29th 18
Dear Belle
I have just [[?]]
wrote it. [[?]] so I'll [[try?]]
[[that?]] I can do for you. I got
some mail yesterday but none
[[from?]] you [[with?]] it but I'll get
[[?]] one of these days. I never
[[?]] a mail, but that I dont
[[?]] or two [[craps?]] more from you
[[?]] jolly good of you to write
so often, Belle You must have
your hands full if young Jim
is as hard a case as I think
he would be, he must be a
fine little fellow now, does
he want to go to school yet.
Mam tells me he loves Sundays
I had a note from Joan Chestnut
Mr C hasent be too well Mrs C
has a lot of worry upon her
menfolk hasen't she. How is
Bob's arm Does he get the
full use of it yet.
O.A.S
Mrs. S.J. Crawford
"Belmont"
France
August 24th
Dear Belle
Just a card in
answer to your letter of June.
23rd. Sure! it was some
recruiting rally when the
clergy enlisted have they
sailed yet The cockies
evidently got their backs
up over the price fixing
business & rightly too. We
are still where we were the last
time I wrote & our battalion
are to have a concert
tomorrow night. The weather
is champion here the last
few days. Expect to see Bill
Bohn tonight. Has Young Jim
Barron returned yet. It will
be about show time when
this reaches you I expect
is it a good season Belle
Kindest regards to all Your affec B
O.A.S.
Mrs S.J. Crawford
"Belmont"
France June 26th 18
Dear Belle
Just a line to let you see I'm
still AI. I had some mail from home but
none from you, but they told me from home
you had not been well. I sincerely hope
you are your old self again long ere this
Belle. We have been having a bit of a spell
from the trenches for a few days & I have
been looking up mates in the other Batts
Saw Billie & Don Bohn but not Andy as he
has been wounded again & Don had a letter
from him to say he was in Blighty. Don
said he was not severely wounded, so its
not too bad for him for a spell. I also saw
Jack Crawford yesterday at some sports
we had. he is looking well & doing well too.
I saw Billie Hunter in the pioneers & Don
Kennedy also saw Mr Jenkins / Nellie Campbells
husband but was not speaking to him as
I never knew him much in civil life. By
the was I was speaking to Dick Wells too
yesterday he's quite well & wishes to be
remembered to Sam & Jim & Yourself, this
was at the sports & then we came back
to our dug outs after tea. Billie Poole
& Arthur Spence came to see me It
was as well they did because I wouldnt
know where to find them as I didnt
know their address. Well Belle I must
close as space is scarce. My regards
to Sam Jim & Yourself Your bro Bob
Irymple
Aug 28-21
Dear Mrs Mactier
You will no doubt wonder who this
letter is from. And hope that it finds you all
injoying the best of health. I often think of you
all, and wonder now you are all getting on.
being one of Roberts best friends, both here and
the other side. I feel it is my duty and the least
that I can do. To write you a few lines
now that the time is drawing near. When we
above all times will think of him most.
That fatal Sunday morning and the first of
September three years ago when. [[poor?]] Bob lost his
life. I can never forget him. And not a day goes
by without some mention of his name. he was one
of the best hearted men that I have ever met. Apart
from his other good qualities, many a parcel Bob
shared with me. And many a pair of socks he gave
to me. As a matter of fact I still have a pair.
And a match box cover made out of aluminum of an
Airoplane. I remember he sent one home to you I
hope you received it. I have never been able to go
and see you all, which I would very much like
to. But being now settled at Mildura there is not
much hope of going over Tatura way. of course

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