Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 2 - Part 3

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and nectar.  Before it processes further I had better

explain that I have not had an opportunity to 

wash for a week so should this letter seem

at all on the dirty side, you'll understand. I

can hear the perky lots chip in with 'that ought

to just suit him'.

Well as for the life.  It certainly appeals to me so far.

The screaming shells and splintering machine guns

a music I have dreamed of since childhood.

I'm in it to the neck.

I half enjoy xxx it .... that's if after marching[[?]]!

Men perish, and each man's belief [[is a gun?]]!

Still finds a sort of [[plasma?]] in himself.

As one of Hale's ten million hands that stink

of the red shame they drip with .... that is

a war!

To see a comrade falls only intensifies your 

determination to avenge the fallen.

We are well fed, and clothed for the cold weather

that is just beginning, and the cheerfulness of the

men, and the optimistic way they view things

makes any one ashamed to growl or become 

discontented. Our officers are great. That one word

means volumes, but is the only fitting one I 

can think of at the moment.  I am keeping a

diary, but by the time I receive your return letter   

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the year will have finished.  Could you send 

me another for 1916.  Walkers size 222 is the type

I have at present - a page a day - and it suits

me down to the ground.  A "Bulletin" occasionally

is a Godsend here, & a few chocolates would be

acceptable in the wintry New Year.

I saw the place where the 8^th L.H. made their

gallant charge and Norman fell.  I suppose he is

home by now & enjoying a well earned rest. __

Your letter & Edith's came last Thursday.  Her photo

is splendid so is Tot's.  I now have quite a collection

in my dug out.  It's a good job my second

photo was a good one.  The first looked as 

if I had just drunk a bottle of ether.  I'm

even vain enough to want to see it.

None of the 3^rd reinf. have yet suffered casualties

and everyone is eagerly awaiting the Coy forward

movement.  Trench life does not appeal to the

energetic Australian, used as he is to roam about

the great tracts of our own country.  When at

last we do move, it will be goodbye Mr Turk

for each week spent here only helps to make

us more determined to rush ∧him right back to his,

Harem City.  Our ships have been doing a lot of

work up Achi Baba way & what we all

expect to hear of the Narrows [[?]] forced shortly.

The London troops here, and the Australians

get on splendidly together and the former are

only too glad to be of any service whatever

[[?]]. They are well behaved and retiring but when

when aroused their eyes flash fire and remind

one of Shakespear's "then imitate the action of the 

tiger". They have done excellent work here and are

ready to do more.

I often think about you all at home and pray

that I may be spared to return to share the love and

tenderness that I know is awaiting me. But then

the longer I'm away the greater will be the return.

And now I must cease as my rest is up.

Best of love to all - Father & the girls

Ever your loving son.

Edgar

PS. Could you send me a pair of long stockings

or a pair of golf sox. we may have snow

here at Christmas time.

[[?]]

Gallipoli

25th October 1915

censored

[[?]]

My Dear Mary,

At last I have progressed with

your long promised letter. We landed here a fortnight- ago today and have spent most of our

time in the trenches. At present we are holding

Lone Pine - famous already - until the

left can swing round and time has come for

the general advance, which we all hope will come

very soon. When the moment does arrive there 

will be hell to pay, for each day spent 

here in the trenches means so much more damage

to Abdul.

I have written several times but am a 

bit doubtful about the address. Anyway hope

I have remembered it near enough for them

to reach you. I think you lost mine

A Company

24th Battalion

6th Brigade

A.I.F.

and my regiment here is 2026.

I found out in Egypt that [[Ned?]] returned

to Australia. The shell wound in the mouth

is healing splendidly. I saw the place -

Walker's Ridge where the 6th L.H. charged. It is

country of the most difficult type and the

only wonder is that more were not put

out of action.

I daresay you remember Ginger Gamble.

Well I met him and Warne-smith, the second

day I was here, and since then have met

no less than a dozen wesley chaps, so a chap 

doesn't feel such a stranger here after all.

And now what about yourself. Father

told me on the wharf about your success

and the way Peter Mac Bride treated you.

I often look up at one of our areoplanes

flying above our trenches and wonder whether

they will send you around this way or whether

you are doing great things in Flanders. Do

get a wriggle on and let me know where

why and what you are, and don't forget to 

send your address. Things are way slow here

at present, as we are the pivot flanks but

the ships are to open a bombardment in

an hour or so, so we may have a slight

variation to the last few days. News is 

scarce but will write as soon as possible.

Best of luck old man Edgar

Received

13-12-15

Answered 14-12-15

Mail closed 2pm 15-12-15

 

Gallipoli

27^th October 1915

My Dear Father,

I am writing this in difficulties - out in 

the open with a strong wind blowing. This morning we

suffered quite a decent bombardment for about an hour

A piece of an eight inch shell about the size of a jam

tin came into my dugout. It ceased about a foot from

my thigh and buried itself in the floor. Another one

burst right on top and buried me in dirt. Needless to say

I soon shifted but the gunner seemed to have me set

for once again the case of a .75 chased me and missed

by inches. After that they dropped them further down

the gully and quite time too.

I have written to Harry several times but do not 

know if the old address will find him. Will you send

it next time of writing. The last week has been delightfully

warm, with the exception of a couple of cold nights.

In the trenches they are providing - whenever possible

with three hot meals a day Bacon, stew and curry. The

great drawback however is the want of water. We get

sufficient to drink but the chance of a wash in fresh

water is small. The trench is indeed the meeting place of

old friends. I have met dozens whom I knew at school.

The mail comes fairly  regularly once a week. I think some

of your letters went to Egypt, but I expect to get them all

next mail. New is rather scant 

Best of love to all

Edgar

 

Oct

or Nov

Gallipoli

[[?]]

 

Sisters all,

I am sorry my last mail consisted

of only a Field Service Card, but last week

was a busy one indeed. I shall try and make

this a little more interesting than usual to

make amends. On the night of November XX

there was heavy firing all along the line.

In fact one might have mistaken the

date for November 5^th, so brilliant were the

fireworks. Sky rockets and flares lighted

up the whole sky and the constant

rattle of machine guns and crackle of

rifles were almost drowned by the boom

of the heavier pieces and the resonant echo

of the warships. Bullets were so thick

that, as one of our boys remarked, if a 

man had fired another straight up, it

would have made a hole in the roof

already formed by innumerable bullets.

Just about, as I write, a beautiful 

biplane is hovering above the trenches. The

perfectly blue sky and bright sunlight

make the sight a pretty one. Every now

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and then a dainty puff of smoke, caused

by the bursting shrapnel appears on

either side or perhaps in front or rear, as

yet, none have hit her and she is soaring

up higher and higher out of range.

There is rather a good yarn going the

rounds of the trenches. I cannot vouch for the

veracity but as it may make a good story

for the Christmas table I shall recount it.

A certain private, having been here from

the landing, and things for the time being

quiet, thought it was up to him to have

a rest at Lemnos or elsewhere for a few

weeks. He consequently tried several

schemes which failed, and then suddenly

he thought of a most brilliant plan. He

paraded to the doctor and complained of

pains in the head. The doctor being well up

in all dodge sent him down on the Beach

on fatigue work. That was alright until 

the work got a bit strenuous. He then

complained of redoubled pains in the same

spot, but was taken no notice of this

actions henceforth became rather erratic

until one day he was seen to swing a 

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large [[?]] on the sands. When asked

what he was doing he gave an idiotic

grin and went on drawing an egg. For 

the next seven days another egg appeared

and after a week the eggs were replaced

by chickens. He then began to feed them

with small pebbles and sea water, and

even pretended to be shooting the crows

with a stick. The matter was reported to the

doctor and he decided the strain was too great

and the story runs he got a month

spell at Lemnos and was never found

guilty of running a poultry farm again.

It rather seemed one of Ulysses attempt

to avoid going to Troy. He ploughed up the

sands of Ithaca and sowed the furrows

with salt. Not far from the same spot either.

Mother's letter came yesterday, after a

space of eighteen days. I am looking forward

to the Christmas meal and the resultant

packages and parcels of all sorts. We firstly

intend to celebrate Christ as here and

make the very best of the festive season,

in spite of somewhat adverse circumstances.

Cold turkey will be the chief dish we know.

November 9th

[[?]] [[?]] this morning written

[[?]] but looked like Isabel's hand [[?]] it

proved interesting reading indeed. Hopefully the

part with [[?]] on top She told dad still

[[?]] to the [[?]] story.

Now [[?]] starting to beg again. Writing

notebooks are at a premium, and are out

stripping [[?]]. Then if

you could send a couple of notebooks

they would be more than welcome.

Last night I supped (?) with Walker

Gamble and we tried our skill on

pancakes. If you knew under what

difficulties we cooked them you would

have some idea of the enjoyment we 

derived from eating them.

[[?]] now I must wish you all the

very best of Christmas greetings and hope

that before many more have passed we 

shall all be spared to [[?]] around the

festive toast.

Best of love to all

Edgar