Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Mother, 1916-1917, Part 11 of 24

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • ANZAC
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000203
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 3

Palisbury Plain 21 916 Dear Mother ts you will see by the address I have left London & am now on my way back to France. I arrived here yesterday & expect to cross the Channel tomorrow or the nextday hewound is complitety health & Ifeel no effects whatever from it I have had a great time in London, but am glad to be getting back to the battery he Austrations are now in a differenc part of the live than the Tomme & are having an quiet time. I met some of our officers a few days ago, who are over on leave & they told me the Germans were scarcely firing a shor nowadays. The Somne is absorting all then energy at present.
stayed a couple of days with 7 tack o Lothe Bethell. They are good sorts & made me very welcome I had the luck to run against some good fellows in hospital we have had lot of fin together. It was guite an Empire show - English Scott Irish, Welsh, Canadian Austratian I have had a most annoying experience with my letters which had been re-addressed to me from the battery. When I left hospital I instructed them to send letters to the Commonwealth Bank, where I had arranged to call for them on my return from the country. The day before I returned to town the Bark sent all my letters back to Base Bst Office so that it may be another couple of months before I get then have had no letters since I was hit. Hope you are all keeping will
I am sorry tosay that Bruce was not able to give me a very good account of your health. I did tell you in my last letter that he was at Kington for a couple of days didn't I Well I'm writing against time & my hands are cold It very wifficult to find out when mails Eclose & I find I have a fewm minute only. When I get back Ill start on my old system of writing every Sunday regardless of mait-days Waiting for mail days only seems to result in missing them a having no time to write much. Dest love to all at home & to Hoth & Jean & to you own dear Silty Your affcte son her

Salisbury Plain 
21.9.16 

Dear Mother, 
As you will see by the 
address I have left London & am now 
on my way back to France. 
I arrived here yesterday & expect to  
cross the Channel tomorrow or the next day 
The wound is completely healed, 
& I feel no effects whatever from it. 
I have had a great time in 
London, but am glad to be getting 
back to the battery. 
The Australians are now in a different 
part of the line than the Somme & are 
having a quiet time. I met some of 
our officers a few days ago, who are 
over on leave & they told me the 
Germans were scarcely firing a shot 
nowadays. 
The Somme is absorbing all their  
energy at present. 

 


I stayed a couple of days with 
Jack & Lottie Bethell. They are good 
sorts & made me very welcome. 
I had the luck to run against 
some good fellows in hospital & 
we have had lots of fun together. 
It was quite an Empire show - English, 
Scotch, Irish, Welsh, Canadian & Australian. 
I have had a most annoying 
experience with my letters which had 
been re-addressed to me from the battery. 
When I left hospital I instructed 
them to send letters to the Commonwealth  
Bank, where I had arranged to call 
for them on my return from the country. 
The day before I returned to town 
the Bank sent all my letters back 
to Base Post Office so that it may 
be another couple of months before 
I get them. 
I have had no letters since I 
was hit. 
Hope you are all keeping well, 

 


I am sorry to say that Bruce 
was not able to give me a very  
good account of your health. 
I did tell you in my last letter 
that he was at Kington for a couple 
of days didn't I? 
Well I'm writing against time & 
my hands are cold. 
It's very difficult to find out 
when mails cl close & I find I 
have a few mins minutes only. 
When I get back I'll start on 
my old system of writing every  
Sunday regardless of mail-days 
Waiting for mail days only seems 
to result in missing them or having 
no time to write much. 
Best love to all at home & to 
Hollis & Jean & to your own dear self 
Your affecto son 
Fred 

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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