Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Family, 1914-1915 - Part 17 of 19

7.11.15
Dear Mother,
Well "once more unto the letter"
this being Sunday, the day we work the hardest
& fight the most
We have just had a new bit of hate
over the battery but no damage.
Really the Turks are poor gunners. Here we
are giving them nice "sitting up" targets & we're still
going strong.
We expect to have a little work at 12 pm.
ce soir, but probably it will be a small affair.
The shortbread & the birthday cake both came
today to say nothing of the phenyle, a most
useful thing.
Fortunately I haven't had any fleas or
lice at all but most officers & men spend all
their spare time hunting.
Perhaps the carbolic soap I use has
helped. Anyway I mustnt count my chickens (sic)
before they are hatched.
I was pleased to know that Hollis got
on well with his operation.
Hes a gay dog- Isabel says 37 visitors in

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four days. I'll bet, the ladies were in the
majority & youd bet get him home again where
you can keep an eye on him.
I'm glad he is doing well in Adelaide
That was the tempting offer he had ?
so the young man Noel is getting on O.K.
He'll be a warehouse manager before long.
Good luck to him. I was five years at it
before I got £1 a week. Do you remember
the row I had with Mr Gill? I've never
looked back since.
Sorry to read about Bruce getting kicked
by a horse. I thought he knew all about
horses. At any rate to know which end Kicked.
Of course long before this he will have left
Australia.
I believe they're are leaving some
vacancies among the majors for captains here
to fill. I might get a job there myself.
I had a fairly long letter from Edith
Avery today with Yours, fathers & Isabels.
I was quite glad to hear from her & about
them all at Kentora but sorry to hear Lily
was rather worse in health.
They sent me all sorts of good wishes

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and I will write then & thank them.
Things are still shockingly dull here.
I have a new major here (Lucas), He is from
the Divisional Amm. Col. He has not done any
gun work since we formed in Australia having
been second in command of the Div. Amm. Col
He is now the senior major & has been brought
up here for experience, but I think he is only
a visitor & will return to his job at the Column.
Naturally I was disappointed, but will get
a step sooner or later, suppose
Re the cutting which father sent about
the decorations for the battery they havent come
off altho' everybody was told about them.
In fact we've got rather sick of the subject.
Some people get them easily, but nothing for the
batteries at Anzac. Candidly there's some jealousy
somewhere I expect. I'd like to know, anyhow.
So Carlton won the premiership. I'm sorry
because it's time they dropped back a bit.
Was awfully pleased to know that Mrs
Ikin & Winnie have paid you a visit.
Please give them special regards from me
when you write. I cannot write to them as I
haven't the address & anyway its a bit of a

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task to write to so many.
Well I must thank you all for your good
wishes for my birthday & for the presents you
have sent me.
You can be sure I appreciated them.
This letter should have plenty of time to reach
you before Xmas & I wish you all the best
of Xmas & the happiest of New Year
I must now close. It's not easy to write
letters one one's knee by candlelight.
Best love to Father Hollis Isabel Noel
& Your own dear self from
Your affectionate son
Fred