Jones, Oscar Anglesey (Captain, b.1892 - d.1917), letters - Part 11

9

Lappan has been hit in the
leg & has gone back.

I see there is no chance
to get through. All our
bombs are gone and we have
been fighting a six or seven
to one battle with rifles
alone. I send my men
back to our line and there

we reform. It is only forty
or fifty yards from the Germans
and we in the open. The

firing is still heavy and we

are holding him. At last
Geoff Hoone gets hit in the
head & rolls over, Tom Copperwaite
who is alongside him takes

no notice but just keeps on till he

is shot dead. I have a 
look at him. No avail. Then I
find Geoff Hoone's head up & tell
him he must wait till dark
before I can get him in.
Well we hang there all
day, and stop one counter

attack from him, in conjunction
with the Stokes mortar.
As soon as it got dark

I went back to Battn H.Qrs

10

where they all raised a yell

as I had been given up as
lost with all my men.

Received word to fall back when
relieved and taking a stretcher
party out had Sgt Hoore

brought in. I then found that
Van Karran was also hit &

a stretcher was brought for
him also. The boys all
came in safely, but there were
big gaps cut out.  Capt Smith
O.C. killed, Bently missing, 
Clareborough, Longden, Harkin,
Richmond, H.E. Smith, all these
were killed or missing.

Capt. Robertson wounded & 
prisoner. N.C.O's & men
killed wounded & missing in 

fair numbers. Capt [[Sal?]] got a

slight wound in the arm
and is now away having a 
spell - I am in charge the
Coy and it is good experience
but the opening was tough.
Reg Temple was killed.

Gilbert Eaton has returned &
looks well. Dick Taliner is well.

I met that chap named

Hughes whose mother is in

the Welsh Red Cross Society.
He is quite well. Harry North

was reported missing but it

is not a fact, He got shell
shock and will be alright soon.
Well [[olfam?]] I am in

an awful hurry as we are
busy fitting up etc & 
as Acting Coy Commander am

kept fairly busy.

Trusting that all

are well. Your loving

Son Oscar

Somewhere in France

Sept 11^th
Dear Mother", 

Well here we are again still
going strong, and quickly getting ready
for another visit to the line.
It will be fairly quick this time
though as there is nothing much doing 

in this part of the line.

I received home letters up to

July 22^nd and was pleased to hear
that all were well and that Ivor

had been home for a night.

We are getting one or two men
in daily, but are only about ¹⁄₃ strength

yet. Am expecting Fred Sale back

at any time, and will be pleased, for
we each know the others way of working
when in the line and that is a big 
thing. I saw Bert Jacka again

to-day. He looks real well. We went for
a walk and had a yarn. He was
saying that Til was well when he

heard last.

They have  started leave
for England again, and so

2

within the next few months I should
be able to see them in Wales.

Had a letter from Dean the other 
day, and he was alright & very
keen on seeing me over there, but it
is a case of wait your turn.

Looking back over the attack

I cannot realise how we came through

so well. It is a wonder that we
were not all swallowed up. Suppose
it is just as it happens & also the
great fight that the boys with me put
up. They were superhuman & no
mistake. We have been
having fine weather here lately &

so that is a good thing. It makes

all the difference in life, if the
weather is favourable. Wet weather

means mud & sickness galore,

also a general mix-up in training.

I put in the last two 

days at a gas school & consequently
know a little more about that

method of warfare than heretofore.
It is poison gas that we

3

have to guard against most up

here, but the aspirators we have are
quite able to deal with anything

they send over at present & it is
only by surprise that the 'Boshe" will

be able to score.

The war news is quite good

at present, and it is likely that

there will be a big change in the

situation during the next few months.
I guess that next spring we will
give him a rough house;  as once
the fine weather starts we will open up
to home time.

I guess it is time that

Bob Bassiner  got away from Australia,
but I suppose by now he is on his
way over here. I have not

seen Wally Tipping over here but suppose
he is dodging around somewhere.

Had a letter from Hona
the other day. She is keen on seeing

what sort of an individual I am
Perhaps she will get a surprise.

4

Well by the time this letter reaches you the
warm weather will be around again
while this part of the world will be
getting like an ice-house. C'est la Guerre
as the Frenchmen say, although on
enquiring into it lately, it is rather difficult 
to to see how the war affects the weather.

I thought of [[?]] Frank has
been home by this & if  possible will
stay around Victoria for a while.

According to the papers

Australia is going to have a referendum
on [[?]] [[?]] and I certainly think
it should come to pass & will vote 
for it, if the franchise is extended to
the trenches. The Germans are
putting one or two shells over this way

to-day, but they did not fall very

near to us.

Well Mother I think this

is all the news this time so I 

shall close. Trusting all at home
are well I remain
Your loving 
Son

Oscar

France 
Oct 7^th

Dear Mother.
At the present time

I am waiting to hear from

you; as some mail of August
14^th has been received, but only

a small portion.
I think that it went to
another Battn as we received
their mail bags at our lines.

Had to send them back of course,
and now are waiting for our
own. We are still back
training, but should go into the
line again soon.  I fancy we will 
have muddy time, but otherwise

things seem quiet along here. 
Am keeping in splendid
health, and my ankle is quite
O.K. again. Have been playing
football on it so you can guess
there is nothing much wrong

with it now. At present I
am the only officer with the
company, so naturally am fairly 
 

2
busy. I saw Bert Jacka the 

other day and he is quite well.
He often comes over for a yarn,
and generally brings the 'Referee", or 
some such sporting paper.
I also met one of the old
Melbourne Police the other evening.

I did not know him personally

in the force, but had heard of him.
Was speaking to Captain
Bean last night, and he told me
he had come to hear a little about
say our attack on the 26^th August
Had quite a long yarn to him,

and he seemed fairly delighted with

the personal touches he was able to 
to get hold of for his copy.

We held a concert the 

other evening that passed off very
successfully. Some of the items
were very amusing, and in not
a few cases the artists sang
very well. There was also
one at the Bgde about a week

ago. I am enclosing a 
copy of the programme.
 

3

The recitation "The Yellow God" was
splendid, also some of the songs.
It helps to pass the evening's,
and is a pleasant break from

dull and military work.
I shall keep this letter
till to-morrow or the next day
in the hope that I hear from 

you. Two days later mail arrived with 
a letter from you and one from

Gla. I have mislaid my

fountain pen, so please excuse

lead pencil, Things are

still quiet along here, but of course
one never knows when it will

break out. Will answer 
your letter in a day or so
Trusting all are well,

I remain your loving son
Oscar