Letters from Herbert Franklin Curnow to Frank Cummings, 1915-1916 - Part 2

3

place them. The Coy has lost several
good men who have been transferred 

to the 2^nd Div Engineers. Now we
are under strength so I suppose we
will draw on our reinforcements.
Recruiting seems to have received a
big lift in Aust. (I wonder what
my chances of getting away from
the Bks would have been like
had I left it later) You must
all be frightfully busy there. I
noticed poor Jack Anderson was killed
Altho' it's so late congratulate Temby
for me - Shugg too (I done suppose
I'm anticipating too far ahead, am I ?)
Gen. Legge has been inspecting the
Brigade frequently so we've seen a
good deal of him. Our practical
musketry has received a good deal
of attention & our men school pretty
effectively. Have had a further
look around this old place lately
visiting old Cairo, the Nile weir -
(or Barrage) the dead city, tombs of
the Khalifs &c If I'm spared I'll
have a good tale to tell you
on return. Pte Crozier ∧ an artist- one of
my men painted my portrait on
 

4.
 the lid of a cigar box. Its very
good - have a look at it when you
call in at 150. Get the snap- shots
I've sent home (if they've passed
the Censor) and let the lads
see them. They're rather interesting. 

Another of our 56th officers has
been killed - Lt H.A. Biggsley. He &
our (56^th) Q. Master both of 6^th Bⁿ A.I.F. were
recommended for D.S.O. According to
reports from Melb. the Yarra Brdrs
still lead in the number of
militia volunteers in the A.I.F.
Remember me kindly to H. Sisson
in case I don't drop him a
line. Will close now as I
want to write to a few more
pals while I've got life, a right

hand, good eyesight &c. &c.

"Cheero" as they say in Ceylon.
Best wishes & kindest regards.
to all from
yours in H.M.S.

Bert Curnow
[*P.S. Keep in touch with
Les for any more likely
news as I believe writing
facilities &c are more or
less restricted at Dardanelles.
Will write if I can though.
HC*]

1 DRL 229
 

XXII
TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY BATTALLION.
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE,
22^nd Sept 1915

Dear Frank
The receipt of your letter
of 8^th ult. yesterday reminded me that
its about a month since I last wrote &
as my time is limited I'll make good
use of the hour now at my disposal &
let you know how I'm getting on in this
place. Don't think I'm so desperately busy
but I can't work at night as I haven't
got a light of any description and daily
routine duties keep [[?]] going between sunrise
and sunset. Perhaps you'll smile at
the reference to routine duties in the
immediate presence of the enemy for
Abdul is only about 60 to 200 yards off.
However such is the case. Our troops are
dug in here, the Turks are dug in yonder. 

We snipe at him and he snipes at
us. Our artillery constantly plays havoc
with his field works and now & again
he opens on us with his 75mm and occasionally 

destroys a parapet or traverse &c
That all means work which makes constant 

patrolling necessary. A lot of work
has also to be undertaken just now in
anticipation of being here for the winter.

2.
 

Drains have to be cut, some of the
main communication and the fire (and
support?) trenches timbered up & covered
in &c. This "sit-down" style of warfare is
quite different to what any of us anticipated 

nevertheless we are here as a
garrison with a definite duty before us.
We are hoping hourly that we may be
attacked but the Turk is about as cautious
 as we are. To put your head over the
parapet in daylight means death and
an advance attempted by the enemy or
possibly even by us would mean a tremendous
 sacrifice of human life. My responsibilities 

have suddenly increased. As
you will probably have heard, Major Derrick
(O.C) and Capt. Buckley (2^nd in command) of A.Co.
became casualties. Their dug-out was blown in
on them by an 8.2" shell. Being next senior
officer I was transferred to A.G and now command 

that unit. I'm not allowed to tell
the Coy. strength. You know roughly, anyway.

I'm not permitted either to tell you where

I am but I'm not far from Johnny Coleman
or Lt. Ferns. They're about 15 minutes walk
from here. I wrote to Mr Trumble on 15^th
giving him, as I'd promised, a short account
of my experiences. I've never written to Mr
Murphy. I'm trusting his seeing the one
or has letters sent. Although∧ our officers letters
pass the censor initialled by the C.O. without 

perusal, we are honor bound to abide
by the rules and regulations. I might
say that I'm very comfortable here in
a little dug-out in a communication
trench about 15 yards from the firing line.
We all sleep fully clothed as often as
the fleas will permit us. There are millions of
 

3.

fleas and flies here. They're a perfect plague.
Water is scarce. You manage to get a
shave and a sponge in the same water
about every two or generally three days.
Clothes &c are washed on the beach. I've
been in swimming four times but the walk
down and the climb back, the very rocky
bottom and the great risk involved make
at scarcely worth the trouble. The Turks
can still & do daily shell the beach
we hold. Our food is pretty good. We get
plenty bully beef, jam, biscuits & rice. Bread
is issued about 3 times a week, and rum,
lime juice, tobacco, & cigarettes & matches
periodically. I've seen a few live Turks
but not many, All observations during the
day are made through the periscope. By
night its fairly safe to look over the parapet.
Some good shooting is done with the
periscope rifle. It's an Austn invention, I
believe. The mails get here alright. We've
had two deliveries since arrival. Parcels are
rather slow coming to hand and frequently 

go astray. The weather here is,
to my mind, perfect. It's just beginning
to get chilly in the early mornings
though, and an extra blanket was issued
yesterday. I am keeping my rough pocket
diary going and taking snapshots here
and there and hope one day to be able
to tell you an interesting story. I can't
send any more photos home as I can't
get them developed or printed here. I saw
Jack Andersons grave and got a photo of it.
We read in the papers received here accounts 

of the recruiting Aust. Day & the reception

of the wounded. The men of the

4.
first force did wonderful work. I can
easily imagine the heads saying its ranks
among the finest feats of the British Army.
You've only to see the ground to realise
this. I went down to look up Major T
Griffiths yesterday. He's still with 1^st Div
H.Q. but I missed him. I'll find him later
on now that I know where his office is.
(If I think of it I'll ask him does he know
where Capt Edwards form A22 is. Capt McLeod
might like to know.) Can't think of
anything else which I may mention
just now so will close. Next time you
write send a sheet of paper & an envelope 

for reply, please. Writing materials
can't be obtained here. I can't
write very often. Call in at home &
they'll always let you know how I'm
getting on. Remember me to Mr. H.R.
Sisson at DHQ & all the lads at
the Bks. Will be pleased to hear
from any of them any time. You say
Kealy would like to swap jobs. Tell
him I think it is high time he had
enlisted. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Have just received a copy of our war
telegram. These are circulated frequently,
but never refer to our own operations so
we kept entirely in the dark as to what
is going on around us. You said the wounded
looked wrecks. You ought to see the old
hands we relieved. There were nearly all bearded,
and  seo ∧hardly any two were dressed alike. We've
only got what we brought here on our backs.
All kit bags were left at Alexandria.
Goodbye now + Goodluck. Kindest regards
to all at Central HQ. from you
Your old pal.
H. Curnow.
 

Sample of war news circulated

in the barracks, at the front.

2/6
WAR OFFICE TELEGRAM.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

SEPTEMBER 22nd, 1915.
A stubborn defence is being maintained by the Northern Russian Forces in Wilna,
Divinsk region, but there is a danger of General Russky finding himself encircled by a
formidable effort which is being made by the enemy to capture the Wilna, Petrograd, and
Wilna, Moscow lines.
In the Wolhynian district the Russians appear to be holding the enemy well in
check, being especially successful round Kolki to the North-west of Derajno.
On the Western front the artillery on both sides has been unusually active.
In Ban-de-Sapt (Vosges) region the enemy's supply routes were under fire from
French guns, and some trains in Thiaucour station were bombarded.
The Serbian positions, South of the Danube have been heavily bombarded.
 

H.M.S. "Llandovery Castle"
At Sea.

24^th March 1916.
Dear Frank,
Once again I'm on board
a troopship this time bound for France.
From the outpost line we returned to Ismalia
and camped at M vascar. The New
Zealanders relieved us. After putting in
about a fortnight at this latter place we
left for Alexandria making the trip in
open trucks between the hours of 2.30 am.
and noon on the 19^th inst. It rained about
3 o'clock and besides wetting us made it
too uncomfortable to settle down till the
sun a few hours later dried things up.
However on detraining we commenced the
embarkation and by about 5 pm. everybody
was comfortably settled. I have a cosy
single cabin with all the ship's comforts
and conveniences and quite naturally am
enjoying the voyage very much. Every
precaution is taken to guard against submarines. 

Machine guns and guards are
posted about the decks ready to fire on
any suspicious periscope which may pop
up. A 4.7" gun is mounted aft manned by R.N.
 

2.
Marines. All lights are most carefully
concealed by night, and no unnecessary
noise is allowed, such as the sounding of
bugles, at any time. Life belts are always
carried by all ranks, and an alarm practised 

daily. Puttees are not worn, the
wearing of boots is optional; those who do
wear them must lace them loosely so
that they may easily be shaken off. We
passed very close to Malta yesterday. The
forts, houses, cultivation &c could be seen
quite distinctly. I think we are to disembark 

at Marseilles, go up north and after
a little more training take our place in
the firing line alongside other British troops.
We changed our rifles some time ago and
now use the mark VII ammunition, the same
as the Tommies. I suppose we'll find living
conditions much easier but the fighting more
strenuous than at Anzac. Your letter dated
25^th Jan came to hand about a fortnight
ago. I don't suppose I'll meet Lt. Bush again.
I saw "Johnny" Coleman in Ismalia. He is
looking quite well again and expects to get
his commission soon. I met W.O. Sorensen in
 

3.

Cairo several times. There's a vacancy
for our Batt. second in command. If Major
(temp) Mackay the senior company commander
 gets it, I am due for a promotion.
However he got himself into trouble at
Anzac and has been "in the gun" ever
since, so that its just possible that a
senior officer will be brought in. A new
establishment came into force on 1^st March
limiting the O's C. Coys who may be Majors
from two to one. I believe the old 56^th is
keeping up its reputation regarding the
recruiting for the A.I.F. If you can please
let me know its figures from the Quarterly
States. I don't think there is anything
else of interest to write about this time
so I'll close for the present. Remember me
to all the chaps in Records & to Sisson if
you see him,
Yours in H.M.S.
H. Curnow.