Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Mother, 1916-1917, Part 20 of 24

France 
29.4.167 
  
Dear Mother
I have received quite 
a big batch of letters lately dating from 
early February to March 5^th, also lots 
of newspapers, so am managing to  
squeeze in a bit of time to wipe off 
the overdraft. 
We haven't been very lucky this 
month, but so far I have managed 
to dodge trouble, &, by the time this 
reaches you, we ought all to be well 
out of the danger zone for the long 
promised spell for the Australians. 
It's just about time somebody 
realised they are flesh & blood, just 
the same as English troops. 
On this occasion we have had the 
bad luck to drop into a dirty little 
spot, where we have to sit & take 
what's coming. Of course we send a 
good deal of ironmongery over, ourselves 

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& trust sincerely that the Hun doesn't 
like it. 
Whilst I was on leave the battery 
had a bit of the real stuff (open 
warfare). McMullin had command 
& he & the battery distinguished themselves. 
Congratulatory letters have come 
through the division he was supporting, 
Corps Hd Qrs to 1^st Divn Hd Qrs, & from 
1^st. Div. Art Hd Qrs. I believe Mac 
has been recommended for the M.C. & 
he thoroughly deserves it, not only 
for this job but for consistent good & 
plucky work. 
The battery was not originally told 
off for the job, but the others weren't ready 
& we were. So we became the battery 
of the advanced guard & were the first 
guns through Bapaume. 
The Brigadier of the Infantry was  
delighted with their work & as he 
was a good solid man Mac was 
delighted to work with him, so

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everybody is pleased. 
Not a bad record is it, we've got? 
First on ANZAC, first to advance when 
the Huns started to fall back opposite 
us & first through Bapaume. (guns of course). 
Naturally I was disappointed in 
one sense to miss the only bit of open 
warfare we've ever had, but glad in other 
ways. Because I've always been  
preaching to the men not to forget the 
"real" field work they learnt at Mena; 
because one could never tell when it would 
be needed. Also it gave Mac. his 
chance & showed that the battery was 
not a one-man show. 
I wish to goodness we could get out 
for a couple of months' training. We haven't  
many of the old originals left now, but 
the right stuff is there, if we can only 
get a chance to train the new men. 
Unfortunately we lost some good 
old originally men a couple of weeks ago, 
including a couple of sergeants who are

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hard to replace. 
However we've been lucky for a  
long time, so I mustn't growl. 
Glad to read that Isabel had 
a good time at Lorne but she 
shouldn't go bathing in all her clothes. 
It isn't done in the best circles. 
I wish you could have gone too. 
I know you want a spell badly. 
How's the pilot getting along with 
the flying. I suppose his head is 
now right up in the clouds. 
Delighted to know you have 
been able to get a girl at last & 
I hope she's a stayer. 
By the way tell Isabel to thank 
Billy Andrews from me for his good 
wishes &c & present mine in return. 
Father asks if it is true that 
Cohen is now a Brig. Genl? He isn't! 
He was temporarily i/c 2^nd Div. Art.  
whilst Johnston was on leave, but there 
was no promotion & he is now back

5 
with his brigade. 
Re a remark of Noel's about the 
trade of JF&HR. Tell him from 
me that JF&HR have just had a  
record season & profits tip-top. 
So that settles that tale. RR & Co 
would be only too pleased if it were 
true especially the S Dept manager who's 
a lot less clever than he thinks himself. 
I hope you will be able to buy a  
suitable villa, as you wish. You could 
always let it well when the family 
grows larger again. 
Am pleased Father is still going 
strong with the M.G.C & looking well. 
& only hope you are the same. 
So you've been going gay & visiting 
pantos &c. Good business, keep it up & 
go often (say at least once a fortnight) 
It's much better & cheaper than doctors. 
Tell Isabel I'm glad she turned 
down the "touring" offer so promptly. 
It would be a rotten sort of a show

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& I'm sure she wouldn't have liked it. 
Sort of a "Dandies" show I suppose. Anyway 
it wouldn't help her a bit for a better work. 
Congratulations to the Berrington folk 
on the 56^th anniversary of their wedding. 
I'm delighted to read that they are so 
well & perky, & hope both Uncle Job & 
Aunt Fanny will long continue to be so. 
I hope Fred Lade has been able to get 
fixed up before this. Rotten luck for him. 
I was glad to hear of Fred Toul, 
but am sorry he has lost his sister. 
Give him my best remembrance when 
you meet him again. I'm afraid I'll 
never find time to write him. 
So Oscar Knight is on his way to do 
his bit. Good luck to him. We want shells 
just as well much as men. What's Eric doing? 
By the way in answer to your repeated 
enquiries re the Xmas parcels, I received the 
lot & many thanks for them. 
Great buzz of talk here about Pat 
Madden's engagement. It's been a habit

7 
with him, but perhaps this is a permanency. 
Best wishes to the Stanesby's & 
many thanks for their congratulations 
I am very pleased to hear that Uncle 
Walter has bucked up such a lot & hope 
he will soon be able to get back to work. 
Also glad to hear of the Zestros, 
but am afraid I will not be able to/use 
the address they send me. But all the 
same, many thanks for their kindness. 
I remember Fred Andrew very well, 
but haven't run across him at all. 
I gather from your letter that it is he, 
who is over here. Anyway good luck to  
him. I'm glad you get on well with 
them. What a confab of war mothers 
there must be in Vale St these days! 
Well please remember me to Arthur & 
Becky & tell them I really haven't had 
any time to write. I did intend to 
write several letters, but this one has 
turned out quite a long one, so I

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must cut the others out for a while. 
Best wishes to all friends & relations 
& fondest love to all at home, especially 
your own dear self. 
Your affectionate son 
Fred