Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 8

could nearly take a mark  
over your head any way
we will see when I get back
because I don't know how
much you have grown.

How near the bottom, I 

mean the top of your class
are you? See can you 
beat me, you will have

to work hard, for I
could nearly always be
bottom when I tried, once
or twice I only came second
bottom, but that was just
bad luck.
Good night Jack I am

going to bed - tout a suite
Your loving, big brother Wally
 

France
August 5^th 1917.
My Dear old Dad & Mum
Do you mind
me writing one letter to you
both? you shouldn't, for
were you not made one
some twenty odd years ago!

Fact is - I find my

poor pen unable to write

two letters to practically the

same person, without repeating

myself, and at the same

time make them interesting

that is , of course, interesting 

ruining a good harvest
and hindering a good little
offensive. Oh! This is a delightful
country!  just imagine living
in a place which enjoys
alternate rain and sunshine
with the successive hours
of the day. one goes out in
winter clothes and comes
home wet through with sweat,
or goes out in summer attire
and comes wading home
in a thunderstorm. - and
this is what I once called
"Beautiful France" - forgive
me, I take it all back,
and never again will
as far as my limitations
are concerned.
I landed in f France in
June 1916, and have been
here ever since, with the
exception of a fortnights
leave to Blighty - and I
know it rained "d ___" near

everyday I was away ___. 

well, I can't remember

one solitary week passing

without leaving rains behind

it, and now, when all

nature and our little army

wants it to keep fine for

just two weeks or so, it

immediately turns round

and xx rains like blazes

for eight successive days. 

I cast reflections upon the
climate of Australia.
So much for the climate
of this God forsaken country,
x it is bad enough, but
what gets my goat; it the
appalling unsanitary state
of the rural and even town
districts, almost without
exception, every village
cottage, is the proud possessor
of a manure dump, which
is invariably is situated
about five yards from the
back door, also an outhouse
which is just a hole dug
into the ground with a seat
over it, and which has

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been xx used by the last
five or six generations,
dangerously close to these two
beauty spots is generally
a well, from whence the
water for daily use comes.

Whenever I enter a village

I look for a bath, and nine

times out of ten I look in vain
The drainage system of
these delightful places is
negligable, and yet from
a distance the people don't
look too dirty, nor do they
appear unhealthy. I honestly
think that the Hun is doing
good. -unconsciously - by

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destroying these villages
as he evacuates them.
It would absolutely astonish 
you to see how backward
France is in agricultural
matters. The ground is still
ploughed with old fashioned
ploughs, and for the most
part, the corn is cut with
a scythe, and even when

they do use a reaper & binder
it takes them a twelve hour
days work to reap two acres.
Well it has stopped raining
for a while now, so I will
like wise quit calling the
place names, for after all
it has it's good points, and
Bill Freeman is going to 

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one of them tomorrow, on leave
and I follow him to Paris
in about ten days time.
As you myself. I have
been in great condition for
the past three months, I can
do a fifteen mile route march
in the morning, and play
football in the evening so I'm
no not bad. We are still
resting, and will be for
some time to come in the
training area.
I am still very keen on
the Indian Army outfit, its
awfully annoying having to
wait so long for your opinions
but I think you will like the

idea too. Good night

Ever your loving son. Wally

France
28^th August 17
My Dear old Dad & Mum
I'm in love
-no not with any girl in
particular, but with Paris-
Dear old Paris, yet for
ever young. The most delightful
little village in the world.
I will tell you as well
as my poor pen is able, how
Hock and I spent four
of the most glorious days
of our lives.

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hot bath and made as our 

selves look as much like

dinkum Anzacs as possible.

we sallied forth with our

guide- a real little character

who knew Paris as well as

his own hand.

We did a bit of shopping

and then visited Les Invalides,

-Napoleon's Tomb- Then

after seeing many places

of interest- I forget their names,

and couldn't spell them

even if I remembered them-

we drove round The Bois

de Boulougne- and had

afternoon tea there. A little 

2.

we arrived in Paris at

about 9 o'clock in the evening

after a weary twelve hours

in the train. We were too

tired to look round, so

we went at once to The The

Hotel Regina.  I remember

nothing after we were

shown to our luxurious

double room and bath

room, until next morning.

When ∧we were awakened by

the waiter bringing in

our breakfast at 10 o'clock

After we had had a

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eaten we were introduced

to two most beautiful

Parisiennes whom we took

to dinner at the Marguery

and after to The Theatre, we

then took the two little bits

of fluff home, and returned

to The Regina feeling very

pleased with ourselves,

and the world in general.

We spent the whole of

the next day visiting the 

famous places of Paris,

Notre  Dame- The Pantheon,-

Palais de Justice.- Saint

Sulpice- The Bastille-

Eiffel Tower- and