Extracts from letters by Herbert Gordon Carter sent to his Parents, 1914-1919 - Part 5

36 
France 
2/12/16 
My dear People 
The main event since last writing has been a visit from 
Robin (Dr R. B. Carter. R A M C) who suddenly turned up at my 
dugout about 2pm. accompanied by a lad called Langford - who 
comes from Mosman. We were extraordinarily glad to see one another 
He is looking exactly the same as ever & talks in his same breezy style. 
He could not stop long - & I did not envy him his journey home. 
in the dark. —  The weather has been vile - rain all the time - 
one snowstorm which was worse as it froze the earth & cracked it - 
causing a whole lot of our trenches to fall in - & it will probably 
result in my getting strafed by H.R. We have been given a certain no 
of trenches to dig by a certain time - We could have done this if the 
weather had held - but by falling in the trenches become impassable 
 & its the devil's own job to get them clear - An impassable trench 
is worth nothing. So my reputation is going to rest largely on 
the weather - no allowances are made in the army - 
17/12/16 
Have just come in from a trip to the front trenches - Things don't 
look quite so blue & I have hopes - Just as I was emerging from 
one sap into the open I was greeted with a brace of 6 " shells - 
which threw mud over my orderly & self- Gee! but I did run, 
for once shells fall on any one place they generally plaster it 
for some time so you want to get away quick. 
The resourcefulness of the men is wonderful. Not long ago we 
were ordered to make our dwellings in a certain trench - I had a 
look at the place the day before & did not feel confident - there was 
not much timber about & only a few scraps of sheet iron, so I thought 
my men would have to do a perish for a night or two- I started early, 
 got there by 10.30. am & then let the men look around for themselves

37 
intending to give them an hour or so like this & then see 
what I could do. But in an hour or so I saw men trudging 
about with baulks of timber & sheets of iron - the stuff seemed 
to grow from the very ground - goodness knows where they got it  - & I 
did not ask any pertinent questions: but I heard subdued mutterings 
from "Tommies" next day or two about 'Australian thieves' at 
which I smiled inwardly. They were all under cover that night & 
by next night were as snug as you could want. 
France 
23/12/1916 
My dear Father & Mother 
Dad's letter generally is about the referendum result - which 
was of course very disgusting but not surprising- If you were to 
take a vote among soldiers as to whether they were to attack 
or not - You would probably get a solid 'No', but if ordered to 
attack will do it willingly.  There would have been little trouble 
about conscription if it had been ordered. We lack a leader 
as you say. 
France 13/1/17 
My dear Father & Mother - 
You seem to be in it with strikes. Sydney has rather 
an unenviable reputation at present - to be the centre of this 
disloyal faction.  As far as I could see it was the overwhelming 
'No' from the Labour electorates of Sydney that put down 
conscription. 
France 17-2-17 
My dear Father & Mother- 
[Chiefly an account of a 'leave' to England to get 
married - & honeymoon in Devon - "18 days 
of the most glorious holiday I ever expect to have" ] 
H. Gordon Carter

38 
France 
16/3/1917 
My dear Father & Mother. 
The war is developing into a very interesting phase - 
these "tactical retirements" are on someone else's boot this time. 
Weather is now splendid - Hope to see you all this time next year. 
H. Gordon Carter 
France. 30/3/17. 
My dear Father & Mother 
Have been looking forward to Spring - but it never seems to 
stop raining ---- my present job is trying to organize the rewiring of a 
light railway with staff that are mostly inexperienced in the work 
& having to teach everyone his job. Not only am I out most of the 
day , but the minions of the signal service bring messages at 
all hours of the night; to say nothing of the telephone. 
H. Gordon Carter 
France 
Ap. 8 1917. 
My dear Father, Mother & family 
This is certainly the most interesting part of the war - 
we are now on captured territory amongst clean, waving fields 
instead of that fearful pitted country — We have been having a 
lot of road work lately - I rather like it - our last job is 
quite as good as anything I've seen round those parts - altho' I 
say so. 
France. 
Ap 15. 1917 
My dear Father & Mother 
This morning we had a fairly large attack by Mr Hun, 
things looked only middling at one stage but we managed to beat 
him back to where he came from. The trees are beginning to 
sprout 
France.  
May 11. 1917 
My dear Father & Mother 
Re road & railway work we certainly got a great deal of this 
especially during the last German retreat, but now that we are up 
against the Hindenburg line & the weather is so much better there is not 

39 
such a rush on these particular works. It is really difficult to 
realize we are in the same country as we were a month ago. 
Everything now is dry & the ground is hard. & the whole country a 
beautiful green. The thought that the sole end of our present condition is 
the destruction of human life beings seems at variance with the 
surroundings. Yet we are having as severe, if not more so, fighting 
as on the Somme. An intact village is a strange sight nowadays. 
There is only one advantage gained from these ruined places & that 
is you can get some decent furniture for your dug out — while they 
supply timber ad inf. I think I shall insist on noiseless guns in 
the next war - one firing over us makes the most infernal din & 
seems to take a delight in catching you off your guard —— 
my brain is not too brilliant for writing. — Gordon — 
France 
16/6/17. 
My dear Father & Mother. 
In my last letter I was hoping for leave - Well 
I did - left here on the 25th & crossed on the 26th to England. 
[ a 2nd honeymoon at Stratford-on-Avon]. 
France. 
18/7/17. 
My dear Father & Mother-. 
We are in billets, the first for nearly 9 months., with 
peaceful surroundings 
There is no doubt the Australians have impressed 
the French very favourably - all those who go on leave to Paris 
have no difficulty in being shown round - & they all come back 
with glowing descriptions of the place.

40. 
France. 
Aug 26.  1917 
My dear Father & Mother 
It may interest you to know that our Bn is now 
regarded as one of the best units of the Divn. hence we are paraded 
before all the Generals in creation. But it makes us awfully proud 
of ourselves & the chaps are sticking out their chests no end.— I 
don't think the war will go very long past the winter - Everybody 
is so fed up -. 
France. Sep 26.  1917 
My dear Father & Mother 
I've been on leave & as soon as I got back found my 
Bn hard at it - so this is the first opportunity of writing —  
The Hun is very strong on his long range guns now - shells 
places as much as 14 miles behind the line — 4 nights previous 
to my leave the Hun planes were scattering pills near our 
billets - then when I got to the French coast, lo! we had bombs 
in that town & on arrival in London we had a visit from 
these persistent gentlemen —— However when we got to 
Windermere it was quite all right - One of the best holidays 
I've yet spent. [Here follows long description of the "Lakes"].  
The Hun has had a 'bellyfull' the last fortnight - & we 
are all getting that feeling that militarily we have the better of him.  
I feel the end of things is in sight- neglecting Russia 
altogether - but nevertheless the end can hardly be before next 
June or July - Things are going pretty well with little 
Gordon notwithstanding the fact he got peppered with shrapnel 
this morning - the shells bursting too high to be nasty. 
H. Gordon Carter

41 
France 
Oct 22. 1917 
My dear Father & Mother. 
We have frequent night visits from the Huns, & they insist 
on leaving a card -- my horse - George - was killed with one 
of these - "in the neck". I was very sorry as I've had him for 18 months- 
I doubt whether I shall get as good a hack again - 
Robin (Dr R.B.C) comes round to see me at times & is 
looking well, altho' pretty hard worked like most of us. - I 
saw a German plane brought down quite close to us - I saw the 
whole fight - the Hun caught fire but managed to extinguish 
it - one of our machines dived at him again & one wing 
seemed to come right off - & down he came nose downwards - 
In 2 minutes the whole British Army seemed to have collected 
at the spot —— Both aviators were quite dead. 
I've just completed my 3 years active service. 
Nov. 7. 1917 
The news in Palestine is very encouraging.  Over this 
side the Bosche is getting plenty of hurry up in the way of shells. 
Robin is very close to me now - Helsham & I had 
dinner at his mess last night - we managed to escape sober 
or approximately so. - My second in command is an ex 
Sergt Major of the Permanent Garrison Artillery in N.S.W. He can talk 
the hind leg off anything. He was once a member of the P.L.L. 
with tons of bluff. - but get him to elucidate a few of his 
so called 'facts' & you find nothing behind them. 
This Cambrai show has been a huge success! 
Dec. 15 
My dear Father & Mother, 
A month's leave, to start in 2 days. 
There's going to be some pretty desperate fighting before long.- 
The fall of Jerusalem has been a nasty blow to the Hun & has offset 
his Italian successes. The internal situations of both sides now 
seems to be the critical feature —— 
Gordon

42. 
'The Fir's. 'Harefield' 
Middlesex. 
Jan 6. 1918 
My dear Father & Mother 
I am off to Buckingham Palace 
tomorrow to see His Majesty over a swell 
matter [ Presentation of D.S.O.] 
H/C. 
16/1/18. 
I felt horribly swanky at giving the order to the taxi driver 
"Buckingham Palace".  Poor Kathleen was not allowed in - I was 
ushered in past many flunkeys to a reception room where we 
all waited with bated breath. Then some old Colonel - about 
95 not out - came & explained what we had to do -- & we 
filed past the King; who said a word or two to each. as he 
pinned on the medal. 
France. 
Feb 11. 1918. 
My dear Father & Mother 
I've just been a having a yarn with our Padre Capt. Orames - 
who is a Salvationist who has just got word to return soon. 
If he should pass thro' Sydney I've asked him to look you up - 
You needn't be afraid of his coming out with a drum or tin 
tambourines - he's one of the right sort - works fearfully hard - 
& always finding some new idea for helping the men. I can't 
expect to get as good a man to replace him - to my mind the 
ideal Padré. The majority of these gentlemen look on life as 
9/10 religion & 1/10 facts & the greater part bring in of this 9/10 they 
bring in the sectarian racket. This chap is the other way about 
9/10 doing things, 1/10 religion. 
March 27.  1918. 
This is now the 6th day of the push & I can't help 
seeing the similarity of events to those of just over 100 years ago. 
Things are certainly looking pretty blue at present but there

43. 
does not seem any need for special anxiety. Everything is 
being done in a very quiet and deliberate manner that fills 
one with confidence - no tearing of hair & wild orders etc - 
This move of the Germans seems to be rather of the nature of the 
gambler's last throw & we seem to be holding him well - 
although he still advances the gaps are closed as soon as made. 
& from all reports he is paying heavily for his advance - 
- we are fearfully busy  - & one has to take all available 
rest so as to be ready for the critical time .  — which can't 
be so very far off.   I'm too tired to write more - 
I hope this show will see the end -  H.G. Carter— 
France. March 11. 
My dear Father & Mother 
We are now all on the tip of expectancy 
Every morning I expect to be wakened with the burst of 
artillery fire. 
April 11.th 1918. 
My dear Father & Mother. 
We are now in the middle of this German 
onset - we were not in that part of the line where the first push 
took place, but it was not long before we received our marching 
orders to that spot. The Colonial troops have been pretty well 
in it during the recent fighting & I think the Bosche Knows it 
to his cost. I only hope we are able to stop him in his next step. 
Apr 22nd 1918 
My dear Father & Mother 
We are still in the midst of this Hun push - 
we see more of the ravages of war lately as regards the civilian 
population  - the plough left in the unfinished furrow - meals 
left on tables - & other signs of hurried exits — 
 

44. 
panic-stricken with the mere thought of the German advance. - 
People fled without any waiting at quite impossible distances from 
the scene of operations.  - whereas attackers in open warfare are at a 
very big disadvantage against modern weapons - Even a thinly held 
line with plenty of machine guns well screened & with determined 
men behind them can stop almost anything. - I could fill a book 
if I told you all the tales one hears of these German attacks. 
It is very hard to understand how the Germans have got their 
men to 'come on' in the face of the fearful slaughter - I do not believe 
our men could stand up to it, good as they are  - the German 
mind is still very subservient - 
France. 
May 14. 1918. 
My dear Father & Mother. 
The Hun seemed to think he could beat us in one 
fell swoop --  I believe he's booked to make an even greater 
attack within the next few days. I don't think it will be here - 
I'm conceited enough to think that he intentionally dodges the 
Australians. He has had a warm reception wherever he has 
met them.  There are now over ½ million Yankees over here, 
A few are billeted close to us - our men look at them as 
new boys -- so far - There is a pretty good feeling growing up 
between them - I had an American Major round to investigate 
our organization - He was visibly impressed, expressed surprise 
at our being able to keep things tright on active service - 
-- our air superiority is, at present, very marked. 
Gas is a big factor now - by both sides - They have gases that 
make you weep, cough, sneeze, sick etc, fortunately not 
so deadly as the earlier gases -