Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Mother, 1916-1917, Part 18 of 24

France 
4. 2. 17 
Dear Mother 
Letter for Nov 27 & Dec 12^th safely to 
hand. There has evidently been great excitement 
over the D.S.O. My mail has assumed alarming 
proportions lately owing to congratulatory letters. 
How I'm going to find time to answer them beats 
me. I'm no good at puzzles. 
Sorry to find that Mrs Lowry is so low in  
health. Please give the Lowry's my kindest regards, 
& warmest sympathy. Also the same to Mrs Gillam. 
By jove Isabel had a strenuous fit when 
she wrote a 6 page letter.  She seems to keep 
pretty chirpy. 
So Raymond is a proud 'papa'. These young 
chaps are coming on aren't they. I won't know 
them when I come home. 
Re parcel of socks from Mrs Siddall. 
These have not yet come to hand but there is a  
terrible rush of parcels & it is impossible to 
clear them for some time.

(2) 
I have also received several 'Sydney Mails' 
from Mrs Siddall & have read them & passed 
them on as requested. Please thank her 
for me. 
Also many thanks for the list of names 
of people who sent congratulatory wires &c! 
But please tell them it isn't possible for 
me to answer them. It takes me all my time 
to get the weekly letter away & sometimes I am 
forced to miss that. 
Re the query as to putting the letters after  
my name - . They should always be put on, & it 
is considered a military insult if they are 
omitted. Personally I don't care whether they are 
put on or not, but it's the proper thing to do so. 
Was greatly surprised to hear of Ines Hanns' 
engagement. Please send her my congratulations 
& best wishes also my strongest hopes that there is 
still a dance reserved for me on her card. 
Glad to hear the Hills are still taking a  
cheerful view of life generally.

(3)
I hope Isabel had a good holiday at 
Xmas. I hope you were able to get a  
decent holiday yourself. 
I do hope Father fixed up OK with 
the Met Gas. Co. As Father says things 
don't look too bright. 
However the war may be over a bit sooner. 
Telegrams from Army Hd Qrs have just been 
received stating that U.S.A. has declared war 
on Germany & is calling on all neutrals to break 
off diplomatic relations with the Huns on a/c of 
the submarine warfare. 
The tale about me getting promoted is all 
wrong. After being in command of the brigade for 
4 months I have come back to the battery again. 
It is 6 months since I was with it now & prospects 
of promotion are very far away on a/c of the  
reorganisation into 6 gun batteries which reduces 
the number of brigades. Also the place is stiff with 
people who have come along with high rank for 
the later divisions. We never heard of them before

(4)
the war & they've taken plenty of time to 
decide on coming away. It's the same old 
trouble (2½ years continuous service gives us no 
seniority whatever). The old 1^st Divn officers are  
a bit sick of it. It's so absolutely unjust. 
We have had snow & hard frosts following 
for a fortnight now. It's pretty cold but 
thank goodness it's a let-up from the mud & 
we can get warm. We are in a new position 
now & are very comfortable so far as dug- 
outs go. But you know they aren't exactly 
xxxxxxxxxxx hotels de luxe at their best. 
I am still waiting to get leave & expected 
to be in England now, but am told I can't 
possibly get away before the middle of the 
month. I suppose when I do get over Hollis 
will have left England. It's very flattering 
perhaps to be of such great importance that I 
can't be spared, but I'm a bit fed up with my 
importance when it means that my leave is blocked & 
it doesn't help in promotion.

(5)
However altho' these little things annoy one 
I can't say I am taking a sad view of life. 
I keep wonderfully fit, but would like to  
see the sun once in a while, so that I won't  
forget what it looks like. 
You can take it from me Australia is 
a great country. We've seen nothing to equal  
it on our travels. 
Well there isn't any exciting news. We do our 
regular 'strafes' & keep the Hun busy & do 
our best generally to make him as unhappy 
as possible. I think we succeed in this laudable 
object. 
Best wishes to all friends & love to all relatives. 
Best love to all at home including your own 
dear self. 
Cheeryo 
Your affcte son 
Fred 

P.S. Arthur & Becky's hamper has just turned up. 
It was addressed to Horseferry Rd & has been chasing 
me round. However it couldn't have come at a better time. 
Please thank them for me. I will write them as soon as possible. 
Fred

France
18/2/17 
Dear Mother, 
Word is just to hand that a  
mail closes today so here goes for a short letter 
to catch it. 
Father's letter of 22^nd Dec to hand & we hear there 
is a big lot of mail somewhere about which is hung 
up on account of transport. 
Glad to see that Isabel was able to get away to  
Lorne with the Hills, but wish it had been you. 
I suppose the usual Xmas gathering was enriched 
by all the new wives that seem to have come into the 
family. 
You seem to be getting to know lots of the families 
of 2^nd Fa Bde fellows. I am pleased you meet the  
Siddalls. I wish to goodness we had Siddall with 
us here. He was a jolly good subaltern & knew his 
job thoroughly.  
Please also remember me to Mrs Caddy & tell her 
that though she may be disappointed at Os not 
getting a decoration yet, we all know the value of 
his work, & he'll come out OK before long. 

(2)
Very pleased that Father was able to make 
another start & hope it will continue. 
I am very sorry to read that you are tired-
out with the housework. Maids are hard to get I 
know, but why not let things slide a bit & get a  
rest. 
Well the thaw has come properly now & we are 
in the "soup" once more. But with Macintosh coats 
& rubber boots we are not badly off at all. 
I'm still disappointed about leave & am wondering 
if it will ever come along. Col Browne promised it 
to me & I would have been away before this but he has 
been promoted & transferred to command 5^th Divn Arty. 
However it will come along soon, I hope. Other- 
wise I will be missing Hollis altogether. 
Well there isn't any news. Please ask Father 
to remember me to Fred Youl & thank him for 
congrats & good wishes. 
Also best wishes to all friends & relatives. 
Love to all at home including your own dear self 
Your affcte son 
Fred

The DSO that Father asks about 
is a decoration in gold & enamel worn 
with medals on left breast. Ribbon is 
Carmine & blue. In undress the ribbon 
is worn with other ribbons & in the same 
way. 
The decoration itself is probably the 
most handsome of any. 
Fred