Correspondence between Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood and Lady Janetta Birdwood, 1915 - Part 25

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000050
Difficulty:
4

Page 1 / 8

AU. 5 -6-] of thogo big sholls elong the trenchos, and thench 1 bellove noono was burt. yet thoy seen to gall all round, and 1 got covered 11th and Gron oue that cana a bit uoever then oeal. 90 ahon non I1tde the Furks ouspected our colng. Asser ters Tare 1n oven up to the vorg wight beters go Left and tho exeuendous hel1Ing ehay gave erectiy we had gone Looked as 12 they could hardly belleve we had cleared out. Then yon cone to thick that 1n a great veng blacse our trenches aro not nore then twenty lve yards apart, 16 certainly 18 a ponderful orodlt to the non that they should have been able to 911p amay as they ald, and 1 think sheus a very Mgh state of discipline which 10 altogethor pralsevorthy. Tou can inagine what a woight adons to have gol1od ofE one 3 shoulders, when 1 got back hore oer 14 thas normlag, and realised the astountlady Food Eortuns no had had, when a place of bad Poctome wght have Pocalted 1n Cerribly heavy Iooses. 1t 45 not, to0, as 14 the Turks had retuced thetr numbers in gront of us, for we calculate that in the trenches Paclu tho Murso” end Sovla corps, ofth Judr apports and purely local resorves, there were approxinatoly 80,00 Turks and a great Many guns of all callbres, and 1 ould Inagno the hlgher Oerman of Hcors on the Spot 111l cone 1n gor cowe vell - degerved obase, Mon 1t 18 brom that thay have al loved us to s11p evey eron each hae 2 AEEI oult gosltion thronchfons vight cald the parrenest possible of pottie recke (212. one or tro cengerary glere) m thoud being oble to do us any danage. 1t was extraordinary, too, that they had not tho ontorprise to puth Gorvard at orge to gInd out the sltuation Mensolves, Iustead of allortag the shole of thedr hevoy and 1ight arti lLory to ourry out a coutirmous, orcendged bombarmnent S4. They 1A 1-245] 91d on our ovacuated posltion. Our Intentions, to0, thould have been gerdove to then looking dow as they to eron the hills around on practioally all 122] Our
7. our novements. As you knox, not a slusle lighter oan leave our beaches uf thout bolng seen, and thouch we of cowse congined novenents to the night as such as poselble, yot a certain anount of eraft was necessarlly seen noving about in tho daytins. Curlously enouch, they seen all along to have antiolpated that we were making arrangements for an attack, and not a retirement. Tho attack me old oarry out on thoir posi tion at HolIes about eloht hours before ue counenced the afthoranal Eron the other areas, May perhops have dscelved them nore than 1 thought probable, as we knod that thoy at once Feinforced down there then the attack began. Tou know how 1 have all along hated the 1dea of 1oaving "Anzac," and all the aondorsul tork done there by ay Men, but 1t 1s at all events some consolatl on to realise we have been obfe to do this af thout eny 1030 thetover, oul 1e we certalaly just have 1nf Hoted a cousidersbis anount on the Turks, oven 12 only In the explosion of the alnos at Russo11"s Top, which as 1 have said wore right under geveral of tholr trenches, which were ovl dently fully manned at the tine, as Immodlatoly to right and 10ft ro11s of musketry fire were Oponed gron ben apparently at qulte ologe Intervals, s0 1t 1s reasonablo t0 suppose that they were paned 11ke thls throuchout Then, agaln, 1 have just had reports that late thls aftornoon large numbers of Turks came onaruing over, ged me 1 Suprose That 100t they culd got hold of that had been Left thind, when the ervlsero and dostroyers, who had of course Penalnod off the ceast, but heavy glre Into them, and say they accounted for Large purbers. Aepluall, no has practically represented on Oeveral Staff throushout all thls, and Mactunn, ho (a hestay D.do and A.M.C., have both playod up capttally, and have done really gell mhlle Houre has boen extronely good in leavipg ms tak Gentiroly 4hh Mt Pr86]
8 Gree hand. Now 1 feel that the only thing 1 want at the present moment 18 a Peally long sleep, as 1 have not had more than an hour in the last fortyeight. Before closing, 1 should just 1ike to Mention that the whole of the suocess of thls operatlon 1s oue entirely to the Corps Cormanders - Byng and Godley, and their staffs, who made all arrangements nost excellently, and left me really little or nothing to do beyond perhaps a suggestion here or a word of oncouragement there during my practically dally vlsits to their positions, whlle the co-operation of Davies in hls attack from Holles was as wholehearted as you would expect. [8"8a] M.R. BIrdwood. P.S. [218t] Hore than ever do 1 realise now entirely we have to thank Providence for evacuating successfully as we have done. A TOal South-westerly gale sprang up at about 1 a.m. today. Had thls been 24 hours earller, 1t would probably have caught us w1th 80nd 31F to 91ght thousand men 8t111 ashore, when getting off would have been oxtrenely difflcult. 1 had given orders that once embarkation had actually started on the Plnal night, 1t was to be cont inved whatever happened, the men 1f necessary having to wade out up to thelr necks to be hauled Into boats, but this would of course have entalled not only considerable loss at the tine, but 90 Much delay that we could not possibly have got through every- thing before daylight, when we should have come 1n for a bad time of 1t. (1t 1s indeed wonderful to l00k back on, and 1 trust 1 am sufficiently thankful.] 20 enphasl9e thls, 1 May Mention that my orlelnal Dlans were to have had the Pinal night of evacuation on 20th [21st but 1t was only about ten days ago that 1 round the Navy could Manage to quarantee the collection of the necessary small eraft 24 hours Sarller than we origlnally thought, when 1 put forward the date by one day, which as yon see has been of Such wonderful and unforeseen consequence - though of course the putting 1t forward mas entirely in vlew of taking advantage of the deather, which we Know must necessarlly get vorse dally at thls tine of the year.
I had to do thei. entuely. on my own SpECIA ORDER Or THE DAY. GENERAt HEADAARTERS 21ST DECEMSER, 1915. The Commander- in-Chief desires to express to all ranks in the Dardanelles Army his onreserved appreciation of the way in which the recent operations, ending in the evacuation of the ANAc and SUvlA positions, have been carried to an issue successful begond his hopes. The arrangements made for withdrawal and for keeping the enemy in ignorance of the operation which was taking place, could not have been improved. The General Officer Commanding Dardanelles Army, and the General OHficers Commanding the Australian and New Zealand and 9th Army Corps, may pride themselves on an achievement without parallel in the annals of war. The Armyand Corps Staffs, Divisional and subordinate Commanders and their Staffs and the Naval and Military Beach Staffs, proved themselves more than equal to the most difficult task which could have been thrown upon them. Regimental officers, noncommissioned officers and men carried out, without a hitch, the most tryins operation which soldiers can be called upon to undertakea withdrawal in the face of the enemy-in a manner rellecting the highest credit on the discipline and soldierly qualities of the troops. It is no exaggeration to call this achievement one without parallel. To disengage and to withdraw from a bold and active enemy is the most difficult of all military operations: and in this case the withdrawal was effected by surprise, with the opposing forces at close grips -in many cases within a few yards of eachother. Such an operation, when succeeded by a re-embackation trom an open beach, is one for which military history contains no precedent. During the past months the troops of Great Britain and Ireland Australia and New Zealand., Newfoundland and India, fighting side by side, have in variably proved their superiority over the enemy, have contained the best fighting troops in the Ottoman Army in their front, and have prevented the Germans from employing their Turkish allies against us elsewhere. No soldier relishes undertaking a withdrawal from before the enemy. It is hard to leave behind the graves of g00d comrades, and to relinquish positions so hardly won and 5o gallantly maintained as those we have left. But all Tanks in the Dardanelles Army will realize that in this matter they were but carrying out the orders of His Majesty's Government, so that they might in due course be more usefully employed in lighting elsewhere for their King, their Country, and the Empire There is only one consideration-what is best for the furtherance of the common cause. In that spirit the withdrawal was carried out, and in that spirit the Australian and New Zealand and the 9th Army Corps have proved, and will continue In prove, themselves second to none as soldiers of the Empire. A. LTNDEN BELt, MAsOR GENERA. Chief of the General Stall, Mediterranean Expeditionary Porce The follorving telesrams are published for information: (] Tron His MAeSry 1nr Hinc. It gives me the greatest satisfaction to hear of the successful evacuation of Sovla and ANZAc without loss of troops or guns. Please convey to General Birdwood and those under his command my congratulations upon the able manner in which they have carried out so difficult an operation. 20-12-15. GTORCE RI. [2] To His Muinsry Tnr Kinc. I have communicated your Majesty's gracious message to General Birdwood and the Dardanelles Army. In their behalf and my own 1 beg to give expression to the deep gratification felt by all ranks at your Majestys encouraging words of congratulation. The troops are only inspired by a desire to be employed again as soon as possible wherever their services may be used to best advantage against your Majesty 5 enemies. SIR CHARIES MONRO 21-12-15. C. in-C. M.E.E. [3] Tron Inr SecartNay of Suark Tox Max. H.M. Government received your news with the greatest pleasure and wish immediately to express to you and all under your command their high appreciation of the excellence of the arrangements for the witlidrawal from ANZAc and Sovla and their warm admiration for the conduct of the troops in carrying Out the most difficult operation of war. They apfreciate as fully the effective help which Admiral Wemyss and the Navy as well as Gencral Birdwood and the Corps and other commanders afforded you. The thanks of the Government for this fine achievement are due to you and to all concerned, and 1 wish also to congratulate you personally. 20- 12-15. 13-. 1233- 4A] 173] 13--
m ummmm mhm junt Limbros 27 Dec 15 &ty ower darling goil in regurning tolether wondes if I om standiin on my head or my heels, as I we had se many orders to Contien effects - A fom Rays agoi it was on order to 9o to Egypt tomsow then to Mudros - then to stay here - now I have to go over there for the day tomorow to see Gont. Monro - & Isuppose come back here. but go sdness knows - get is very dusroying- Buite Forty let such things anvoy me when I om feeting at all lom as & I thint I do appikest the after effects I supposs of this evacuation for even though at could not possibtly have been more suse eisful wit the whele: dea of tavn ge Come away sivene the feeling of faiture. thm othout getting througth gol sad wo- Keeps- bothering acertain amount. I suppose ouight to have- had it looked to before, but imbrt the evacuation was over. I didnt fecl I could afford to Cayup a day or two. quietly which having ate opened up might in ortve. Now the. Dvitor his to keep dugging at it Fopening it dtaily which is a fore, but he atsures. me it witt bhe quite right in a day i So & I om Smect with Bry the byon. I hepe the old Peaevels have beard of in hom them Son - Hes. Blegt i- here now on the to see it. withdranval from Suvla, So I went day & storce Aetad after the b.
115 mrere wold he was thee all right. so I sent fortm to Come & see me. The pest day howener word was sent me that it was another man of the same name - who was here but thit then son, Lost been wounded some little time sattred it was not atall bad, just Lgro & sont off. bullet wound in the leg - but once a mans is sentec wike that it in quite impossible for us here to lell, where he has gore to- he men be in Egypt. Malter on England cat. I loe thold Peacvets have bard of them son, well neto tell them snow sory I am not to pome seen him show somg tos to known, he is wounded, but that I hope & e.is. well again now. Rather a- curions thing haptened the other day - dun old Lotbintere asked me in I would exclange stocks with him as he wimed. much valne & like to keep the one I had ned in my daily visits round the Anzac trenches. Looking at it he - discovered a bullet had gone into it & turned a 6tt- & was s both stacking in ihe. F eememer one day thirk it had been hit wher d was going round, but never bothned to took at it nets strange the bullet should have remained in. it We had a capital. orr fire conc s then th 5is camp on Clunthas Day - & S. must sa t oer wont. at the ened i. Tunche
ftm fo ahe fort c one. I Bak nt was Cened. Whehos wthe Whe io the Camp Commandent here. Gthing up af the Ind & shontin T hee chees for Sir William Birdword of Anyrce 3 thipt th wet world wive tlat - then teat on cheering till they were tee tuel - & none of my our Anstral. Ians. Were with them rother, as I in somy to say thel Are all over at Mudros- There were all Bodesh coediers tmeey iin goreard etc tofest ite was so mengles By the bye. do till me if win ever got some rather nice water colou pictures of Anzac I sent hen a long time E. As & matter of fire. Wagsteff fot them for me & Go he has askel more tham once if won eoe sent them of cot them. also did won ever oter the hair of bedroom stipters for me. I ive never got them or heard of them Frememter I always ackunnledye eneything. so if con dout heas of my getting amything not have dent. fom with Kown I hwent recewed it - though lattens ofter go astray & aguin. I havent hoard from non. for a long time non. thes posts are umfut. De till me in that sum of L500rd to our accent at the Baik has hem credited aame thanes with the Pay he. as I am havs.
AUS. ree memrermeehemproe peueecuhrereerere ch II ment sitle aboud toat. Inleracon canlld me has heen credited all right - do tie & rememiter this Ihear Genl. &keen is down at Satcompe & now all right again so. I am much heping to set him back soon. thouh Aspinall has heen doing the wak for me very well are now off t Geypt. Cing Eust Monro & all his stalf have whit got comme. we here to him thest overs to camout what wit he fer mare diffficuelt them Efarenatin Azae Suvle - hameen I in faie to soll all right - provided dways the meather is good - had down & amything may haphere Colldrely on Prowline to see us sateby through again Godbye my oum litle lank & all by love to eem Eer gun very loving oold wict by head to nearly all right again, but the tacke &tifl - has to open atent everng day which i Cealing nom tircely. bing but he Layiit 32 3316 68]

- 6 -
of these big shells along the trenches, and though I believe 
noone was hurt, yet they seem to fall all round, and I got 
covered with mud from one that came a bit nearer than usual.
To show how little the Turks suspected our going, 
deserters came in even up to the very night before we left, 
and the tremendous shelling they gave directly we had gone 
looked as if they could hardly believe we had cleared out.
When you come to think that in a great many places our trenches 
are not more than twenty five yards apart, it certainly is a 
wonderful credit to the men that they should have been able to 
slip away as they did, and I think shews a very high state of 
discipline which is altogether praiseworthy. You can imagine 
what a weight seems to have rolled off one's shoulders, when I 
got back here early this morning, and realised the astoundingly 
good fortune we had had, when a piece of bad fortune might have 
resulted in terribly heavy losses.
It is not, too, as if the Turks had reduced their 
numbers in front of us, for we calculate that in the trenches 
facing the "Anzac" and Suvla corps, with their supports and purely 
local reserves, there were approximately 80,000 Turks and a great 
many guns of all calibres, and I should imagine the higher German 
officers on the spot will come in for some well-deserved abuse, 
when it is known that they have allowed us to slip away from such 
a difficult position through /what one might call the narrowest possible 
of bottle necks, (viz. one or two temporary piers) without7 being able 
to do us any damage. It was extraordinary, too, that they had not 
the enterprise to push forward at once to find out the situation 
themselves, instead of allowing the whole of their heavy and light 
artillery to carry out a continuous, organised bombardment as they 
did on our evacuated position.
Our intentions, too, should have been obvious to them, 
looking down as they do from the hills around on practically all
our/
 

 

- 7 -
our movements. As you know, not a single lighter can leave 
our beaches without being seen, and though we of course 
confined movements to the night as much as possible, yet a 
certain amount of craft was necessarily seen moving about in 
the daytime. Curiously enough, they seem all along to have 
anticipated that we were making arrangements for an attack, 
and not a retirement. The attack we did carry out on their 
position at Helles about eight hours before we commenced the 
withdrawal from the other areas, may perhaps have deceived 
them more than I thought probable, as we know that they at once 
reinforced down there when the attack began.
You know how I have all along hated the idea of 
leaving "Anzac," and all the wonderful work done there by my 
men, but it is at all events some consolation to realise we 
have been able to do this without any loss whatever, while we 
certainly must have inflicted a considerable amount on the 
Turks, even if only in the explosion of the mines at Russell's 
Top, which as I have said were right under several of their 
trenches, which were evidently fully manned at the time, as 
immediately to right and left rolls of musketry fire were 
opened from men apparently at quite close intervals, so it is 
reasonable to suppose that they were manned like this throughout.
Then, again, I have just had reports that late this 
afternoon large numbers of Turks came swarming over, seeing I 
suppose what loot they could get hold of that had been left 
behind, when the cruisers and destroyers, who had of course 
remained off the coast, put heavy fire into them, and say they 
accounted for large numbers.
Aspinall, who has practically represented my General 
Staff throughout all this, and MacMunn, who is now my D.A. and 
Q.M.G., have both played up capitally, and have done really well, 
while Monro has been extremely good in leaving me an entirely
free/
 

 

- 8 -
free hand.
Now I feel that the only thing I want at the present 
moment is a really long sleep, as I have not had more than an 
hour in the last fortyeight.
Before closing, I should just like to mention that 
the whole of the success of this operation is due entirely to the 
Corps Commanders - Byng and Godley, and their staffs, who made all 
arrangements most excellently, and left me really little or 
nothing to do beyond perhaps a suggestion here or a word of 
encouragement there during my practically daily visits to their 
positions, while the co-operation of Davies in his attack from 
Helles was as wholehearted as you would expect.
                                                             (S'gd) W. R. Birdwood.
 
 

P.S. (21st) More than ever do I realise how entirely we have to 
thank Providence for evacuating successfully as we have done. A 
real South-westerly gale sprang up at about 1 a.m. today. Had 
this been 24 hours earlier, it would probably have caught us with 
some six to eight thousand men still ashore, when getting off 
would have been extremely difficult. I had given orders that once 
embarkation had actually started on the final night, it was to be 
continued whatever happened, the men if necessary having to wade 
out up to their necks to be hauled into boats, but this would of 
course have entailed not only considerable loss at the time, but 
so much delay that we could not possibly have got through everything
before daylight, when we should have come in for a bad time 
of it. (It is indeed wonderful to look back on, and I trust I am 
sufficiently thankful.)
To emphasise this, I may mention that my original 
plans were to have had the final night of evacuation on the 20th/21st, 
but it was only about ten days ago that I found the  Navy could 
manage to guarantee the collection of the necessary small craft 24 
hours earlier than we originally thought, when I put forward the 
date by one day, which as you see has been of such wonderful and
unforeseen consequence - though of course the putting it forward 
was entirely in view of taking advantage of the weather, which we 
know must necessarily get worse daily at this time of the year.

 

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,

21ST DECEMBER, 1915.

The Commander-in-Chief desires to express to all ranks in the
Dardanelles Army his unreserved appreciation of the way in which the recent
operations, ending in the evacuation of the ANZAC and SUVLA positions, have been
carried to an issue successful beyond his hopes. The arrangements made for withdrawal,
and for keeping the enemy in ignorance of the operation which was taking place, could
not have been improved. The General Officer Commanding Dardanelles Army, and
the General Officers Commanding the Australian and New Zealand and 9th Army
Corps, may pride themselves on an achievement without parallel in the annals of war.
The Army and Corps Staffs, Divisional and subordinate Commanders and their Staffs,
and the Naval and Military Beach Staffs, proved themselves more than equal to the
most difficult task which could have been thrown upon them. Regimental officers,
non-commissioned officers and men carried out, without a hitch, the most trying
operation which soldiers can be called upon to undertake—a withdrawal in the face of
the enemy—in a manner reflecting the highest credit on the discipline and soldierly
qualities of the troops.
It is no exaggeration to call this achievement one without
parallel. To disengage and to withdraw from a bold and active enemy is the most
difficult of all military operations; and in this case the withdrawal was effected by
surprise, with the opposing forces at close grips—in many cases within a few yards of
each other. Such an operation, when succeeded by a re-embarkation from an open
beach, is one for which military history contains no precedent.
During the past months the troops of Great Britain and Ireland,
Australia and New Zealand, Newfoundland and India, fighting side by side, have invariably
proved their superiority over the enemy, have contained the best fighting troops
in the Ottoman Army in their front, and have prevented the Germans from employing
their Turkish allies against us elsewhere.
No soldier relishes undertaking a withdrawal from before the
enemy. It is hard to leave behind the graves of good comrades, and to relinquish
positions so hardly won and so gallantly maintained as those we have left. But all
ranks in the Dardanelles Army will realize that in this matter they were but carrying
out the orders of His Majesty's Government, so that they might in due course be more
usefully employed in fighting elsewhere for their King, their Country, and the Empire.
There is only one consideration—what is best for the furtherance
of the common cause. In that spirit the withdrawal was carried out, and in that spirit
the Australian and New Zealand and the 9th Army Corps have proved, and will continue
to prove, themselves second to none as soldiers of the Empire.

A. LYNDEN BELL, MAJOR GENERAL,
Chief of the General Staff,
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

The following telegrams are published for information:
 

(1) FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING. It gives me the greatest satisfaction to hear of the successful
evacuation of SUVLA and ANZAC without loss of troops or guns. Please convey to
General Birdwood and those under his command my congratulations upon the able
manner in which they have carried out so difficult an operation.
20-12-15.
GEORGE, R.I.
 

(2) TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING. I have communicated your Majesty's gracious message to General
Birdwood and the Dardanelles Army. In their behalf and my own I beg to give
expression to the deep gratification felt by all ranks at your Majesty's encouraging words
of congratulation. The troops are only inspired by a desire to be employed again as
soon as possible wherever their services may be used to best advantage against your
Majesty's enemies.
SIR CHARLES MONRO,
C.-in-C., M.E.F.
21-12-15.

(3) FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. H.M. Government received your news with the greatest pleasure
and wish immediately to express to you and all under your command their high
appreciation of the excellence of the arrangements for the withdrawal from ANZAC
and SUVLA and their warm admiration for the conduct of the troops in carrying out
the most difficult operation of war. They appreciate as fully the effective help which
Admiral Wemyss and the Navy as well as General Birdwood and the Corps and other
commanders afforded you. The thanks of the Government for this fine achievement
are due to you and to all concerned, and I wish also to congratulate you personally.
20-12-15.
[* I had to
do this
entirely
on my own*]

 

Imbros
27 Dec 15

My own darling girl.
I'm beginning to rather wonder if I am standing
on my head or my heels, as I've had so many orders to contrary
effects. A few days ago, it was an order to go to Egypt tomorrow -
then to Mudros - then to stay here - now I have to go over there for
the day tomorrow to see Genl. Monro - & I suppose come back here -
but goodness knows - & it is very annoying. But I only let
such things annoy me when I am feeling at all low, as I
I think I do at present - the after effects I suppose of this
evacuation, for even though it could not possibly have been more
successful, yet the whole idea of having come away
without getting through gives me the feeling of failure - my
head too keeps bothering a certain amount - I suppose I
ought to have had it looked to before, but until the evacuation
was over I didn't feel I could afford to lay up a day or
two quietly which having it opened up might involve.
Now the Doctor has to keep digging at it & opening it
daily which is a bore, but he assures me it will be
quite right in a day or so, & I am sure it will.
By this time, I hope the old Peacocks have heard of
or from their son.  His Regt is here now,  on the
withdrawal from Suvla, so I went up to see it
one day & at once asked after the boy. I was at first
 

 

told he was there all right, so I sent for him to
come & see me. The next day however word was sent me
that it was another man of the same name who was here,
but that their son, had been wounded some little time
ago & sent off. I gathered it was not at all bad, just
a bullet wound in the leg, but once a man is sent off
like that it is quite impossible for us here to tell where
he has gone to - he may be in Egypt, Malta or England, but I
hope the old Peacock's have heard of their son, & will you tell
them how sorry I am not to have seen him & how sorry too
to know he is wounded, but that I hope he is well again
now.
Rather a curious thing happened the other day, dear old
Lotbiniere asked me if I would exchange sticks with him
as he would much value & like to keep the one I had used
in my daily visits around the Anzac trenches. Looking at
it he discovered a bullet had gone into it & turned a
bit, & was still sticking in it! I remember one day thinking
it had been hit when I was going round, but never
bothered to look at it, & it's strange the bullet should
have remained in it!
We had a capital bonfire concert for the men
in this camp on Christmas Day - & I must say
I was much touched at the end of it by some
 

 

2) one - I think it was Churchill - Winstons' brother 
who is my Camp Commandant here - getting up at the
end & shouting "Three cheers for Sir William Birdwood of
Anzac". I thought the men would never stop - they went on
cheering till they were tirr tired - & none of my own Australians
were with them either, as I'm sorry to say they
are all over at Mudros. These were all British soldiers -
Yeomanry, Engineers etc, & I felt it was so nice of them.
By the bye, do tell me if you ever got some rather nice
water colour pictures of Anzac I sent you a long time
ago? As a matter of fact, Wagstaff got them for me &
sent them off, & he has asked more than once if you ever
got them? Also did you ever order the pair of bedroom
slippers for me? I've never got them or heard of them, 
& remember I always acknowledge everything, so if you
don't hear of my getting anything you have sent
you will know I haven't received it - though
letters often go astray & again I haven't heard
from you for a long time now - the posts are
awful. Do tell me if that sum of £ 50 odd
has been credited to our account at the Bank
as I  am having some worries with the Pay people
 

 

& I must settle about that, unless you can tell me it 

has been credited all right - do try and remember this.
I hear Genl. Skeen is down at Salcombe & now all right
again so I am much hoping to get him back 
soon, though Aspinall has been doing the work for me 
very well.
Genl. Monro & all his staff are now off to Egypt, leaving
me here to run the show - & before me I have just got
orders to carry out what will be far more difficult than
evacuating Anzac & Suvla - however I'm trying to do it
all right - provided always the weather is good - bad
storms & anything may happen, but I rely on Providence
to see us safely through again.
Goodbye my own little lamb & all my love to you.
Ever your very loving old,
Will.

My head is nearly all right again, but the Doctor 
still has to open it out every day which is 
trying, but he says it is healing now nicely.
 
[*3
DRL
3376 (15)*]
 
 

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