Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 3 January 1917 – 14 December 1917 - Part 19

Thursday 
6 : December 1917 
  
Dear General, 
Many thanks for your
extremely kind letter which I shall gum
into my diary! - I can assure you it was a
real pleasure to do anything for your comfort
and I only hope that when you are over
again you will - if it is possible (which I
know may not be the case) - give me a
little notice so that we can do better 

for you :- On Mr Longs  behalf I went
down to receive you at Charing Cross on
the Sunday but I found you had arrived
unexpectedly earlier in the day :- 
I can understand your mens devotion
for you when I, a middle aged politician
fell under your spell on that (to me)
memorable Monday the 12 March last
at Hennencourt Chateau 
Yours Ever 
William Bull 
3
DRL
3376 (9) 
To 
General Sir William Birdwood 
&c : &c : &c.

MISSION BELGE 
ATTACHÉE AU    Décember 8^th _ 1917. 
GRAND QUARTIER GÉNÉRAL  
BRITANNIQUE 
  
My dear General, 
I am delighted to inform you
that His Majesty has been pleased to
confer on you the Belgian Croix de Guerre;
will you kindly accept my best
and sincerest congratulations : no
Soldier deserves more than you
such an honour. 
I hope that you had a good rest
during your stay in England ; I
read in the Court Circular that you
had the honour of being received by
your King. 
You know that we are now again at
Montreuil and neighbourhood (My mission
is billeted in Neuville sous Montreuil). The
distance from my Headquarters to

Fletre is unfortunately now much
longer - but I hope however to be
able to go and see you. 
Yours very Sincerely 
[[Ad Orvy?]] 
[[Liege?]] 

Visitiors Chateau 
Dec 8. 1917 
  
My dear Birdwood. 
I am just leaving for England 
having had the great pleasure, yesterday,
of seeing my Newfoundland lads
out - with great honour - from the
Cambrai fight. They took Masniĕres
on Nov 20 & held the line into Dec 3
when the remnant was relieved. -
They are 240 bayonets now. 
I write only to wish you good 
luck & to express my belief that you
have not only the qualities of a soldier
but the infinite tact required to make 
the most and bring out the best in the
Australian army. - I still back my 
original prophecy. Yours very truly 
W.E.Davidson 

Mission Militaire Francaise  Q.G.,  le 14 / 12 / 1917
attachée  
A L’ARMÉE BRITANNIQUE 
.......... 
SECTEUR POSTAL NO. 2 
  
Mon Général  
Permettez moi de venir 
vous annoncier moi-même que 
je quitte la mission pour 
aller reprendre un commandment 
dans l’armée française. J'en 
suis ravi, et cependant à  
le sentiment de joie se méle 
un sentiment de regret de  
laisser cette magnifique armée   

anglaise où pendant 18 mois 
l'on moi a fait un si cordial  
accueil. Je me souviendrai 
toujours, en particulier,  mon  
Général, de la surveillance 
avec laquelle vous avez bien rendu 
me recevoir et me permettiez  
vous de vais dire que vous êtes 
parmi ceux qui je [[refutterai?]] le 
plus. Je voudrais espérer que 
pendant ou après la guerre, il 
me sera de nouveau possible de 
vous revoir et de vous dire mon 
trēs sincēre et respecteux attachement. 
J'ai reçu le trēs joli album 

de photo [[officiel?]] du I anzac 
et je le garde comme un 
précieux souvenir 
  
Daigniez agréer, mon  
Général, l'hommage de mon 
respect et de mon devouement 
  
[[C^ol de Bellaifice 3 uf?]] 

Mes meilleurs souhaits pour vous 
et vos si belles troupes dont je garde 
le précieux souvenir. 
a merry christmas and a new happy Year G.B. 
Le Général Bailloud
Médaille Militaire 
Grand -  Croix de la Légion d' Honneur 
KCB, KCVO, 
95. Avenue Victor Hugo Paris