Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 3 January 1917 – 14 December 1917 - Part 12

I have had ample experience
in dealing with Americans.
However…. one is not in a
position, especially at the
present moment, to refuse
to serve the country in
whatever capacity it may
be deemed suitable to be 
placed into.
There is a great deal of
anxious criticism in Government
circles and in the
press here of the state of
affairs in Russia. The
country is passing through
a tremendous crisis, the
task of evolving order out

of chaos in wartime is one
of such magniture that
no single brain can grasp
it. At this time, we need
the fullest sympathy and
loyalty of our friends and
Allies. Unfortunately, I 
must admit that certain
people are rather inclined
to ask too much! … So
far, Russia has escaped
many pitfalls and traps,
the Army has remained
loyal, the temporary and
inevitable breakdown of
the discipline has not caused
any grave disasters, and

I remain confident that
the Army will yet show its
striking power. Germany
is working hard to prolong
this state of anarchy and
confusion, but I am too
deeply convinced of the
genius of the Russian people
to admit for one second
that common sense and
elementary patriotism will
be wanting. It is true that
the Germans have withdrawn
several divisions
to the West, which has
rendered the task of the
Armies in that theatre

more arduous. But this,
I am certain, is only temporary,
and we must, in justice
to Russia,  bear in mind
that in 1915 she withstood
the onslaught of superior
forces for several months…
without a shell or a cartridge!
I have always believed
that the death blow to
Germany would be dealt
by the British Army, and
the magnificent power and
heroism of your troops have
proved that I was right!
On the other hand, it has
been conclusively proved that

the old regime in Russia
was treacherous, and that
they were working for a
separate peace with Germany.
However difficult, therefore,
the process of reconstruction
may be, our Allies have
every reason to be grateful
that the overthrow of the
corrupt and contemptible
autocracy has taken place
in time to save Russia from
an irreparable military
collapse and a revolution
which would have been the
more terrible the longer we
would have waited.

I shall write to you
as soon as I know for 
certain whether and when
I am to leave London.
With my heartfelt thanks
and warmest wishes
Yours very sincerely
C.Nabokoff

C.O.L.D.

CHURCH OFFICE,
PERTH,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

4-VI-17

Dear General
The papers today tell
us that the King has given 
you another honour & I
just send this line to let
you know how delighted your
friends are. Some how when you
get an honour we think
it partly belongs tous
so we are the more
pleased- you & our 

men deserve & deserve 
richly every honour
you get - I wish you could 
finish the job & get into
the Land & have a rest.
That however is not yet -
I have just come from
speaking at a recruiting
meeting - we are doing
pretty well - but not as 
well as we could wish.
If we could win the war
by talk - I should be doing 
my share - for I have
spoken on the war over
40 times since I got back.

3.
I cannot get over the
‘Gypy Tummey’ I got in
Egypt - it makes one 
very weak -
Please remember me to all
your staff - How good they
were to me! -
Yours with hearty congratulations

C.N. Perth
C.G. 

H.M.S. CENTURION,
C/o G.P.O.
9^th June.

My dear General
It was very nice of you to write
and congratulate me on the arrival
of the son - Many thanks - We were
all delighted to see your KCB
in the Birthday Honours - tho’ we
all said it was an outrage that
you had not been given one
long before - Admiral de Robeck
sent me your most interesting
account of the A.N.Z AC Corps
attack. It is a splendid story
and something to be very proud
of. I am glad to say Carver is
busy given another Command and
also a DSO. His salvage of the
Monitor’s guns off Smyrna was 
a very fine gallant performance

She was within range of a 6" battery
and constantly shelled - they lived
in dug outs on an island and
swam out to her working naked 
many hours at a time. When it
was dark lighters were taken to
her and after a fortnight of strenuous
effort he [[salved?]] guns - shells-
machinery etc. The Admiralty refused
to do anything  for him because they
said de Robeck’s mentions already
Exceeded the Admiralty Scale!
It seems difficult to settle limit mentions
for gallant actions by Scale and unless
opportunities are similarly limited
- a phrase which we worked into the
last letter - and which in the end
bore fruit! Very many thanks for your
kind letter which my wife and I much appreciated
Your Ever Roger Keyes

3
DRL
3376(9) 1 

11th June 1917.

My dear Birdwood.
Many thanks for your letter of the 7th June and most interesting 
report on operations by the Anzac Corps which you send me
to see. I have read them with the greatest pleasure. It is a
record of hard hammering fighting such as the Australians have
had so much of right through. It is wonderful how they come up
again, time after time, fresh and ready to begin it all once more.
This I am sure is mainly due to your influence and leadership -
they would not have been able to do it without that.
I hope you will have a good time when you do come home and
as good weather as you are having now,and that I may see you as
you pass through town one may or the other.
We are very pleased at my boy having got the Military Cross
for organizing and commanding a successful raid in his battalion.
He has now gone to Italy as a Staff Captain and will be there for
some months I gather.
All well here.
Your’s ever,

HV. Cox.