Letters from Norman Griffiths Ellsworth to his Family, 1917 - Part 5 of 7

France 
19-4-17 
My Dearest Mother, & all at Home, 
Just a note 
to let you know that I am in the very 
best of health, & everything is going 
O.K, despite the fact we are in the 
thick of it, & I hope that our luck 
will stand by us as before. 
Jack Tilton is not far from me 
altho' I haven't seen him for a couple 
of days, but he is quite well. 
Fritz is getting plenty of "straffs" 
from us, & he gives a little back at 
times to make us a little uncomfortable 
but he gets no rest at all. 
I have had no letters for some 
time, but I have lett Harty Cole 
know my whereabouts, & she will send  
them on to me. 
News is scarce as writing matter 
but I could tell you oceans of news 
were it not for the strict censor, but 
when the war is over, - then I'll tell 
you about everything I've seen. 
I am well off for clothes at  
present, but could do with a parcel 
of socks & shirts occasionally, but 
don't go in for anything expensive 
please, as the risks are plentiful of 
not getting them. 
It is a treat to be with 
a Melbourne battery, & to hear Melbourne 
discussed with such glee, & to see the 
Melbourne papers & weeklys

2 
Things were a little awkward for 
me taking over whilst on the march 
but everything requires a little 
straightening & then O.K. 
We get paid every fortnight, so 
I have more than enough, and we 
send down to the wagon lines for 
all kinds of food. 
Food is good, & well cooked, 
as we finds all kinds of stoves & 
kitchen utensils in smashed up 
villages. 
Today we got a big new 
one fire stove, (almost new) & we 
are to have some seasonable 
luxuries now, & we have a good 
chef, too. 
Well, my dears, I hope you 
are all in the best of health, & will 
not worry at all.  It must be very 
satisfactory for you to know that 
I am again at the front. 
If you want any money, just  
write & let me know, & I will re- 
allot you some. 
Now dears, just keep the 
home fires burning & everything is 
O.K.  
With fondest love to you 
all 
I remain 
Your loving son                           
Norman.     
1DRL 256      
266                         

France 
24^th April. 
My Dearest Mother, & all at Home, 
I am very 
pleased to tell you again this week that 
I am in the best of health, altho' we have 
had a rather exciting time lately, & Fritz 
very near captured the whole crowd of us. 
He came at us very early on the 15^th 
inst, & caught us all asleep, & we, (or rather 
most of us) only just escaped him. Jack 
Tilton is missing, & we believe him to be 
a prisoner; with several of his mates.  He 
was only 100 yards from our position at 
the time, & it's a wonder we all did not 
share his experience.  Our Infantry soon 
chased Fritz off with heavy loss, & we got 
our guns back, & he had only time to blow 
one of them up, & we have "straffed" him 
to some tune since we returned. 
Jack was last seen going toward an 
old German trench, and this is where Fritz 
was in good numbers, so I suppose

2 
Jack ran right into his arms.  Some of 
our Infantry told us afterwards that they 
saw some Germans with several of our boys 
hurrying towards the Hindenburg line, & we 
have reason to assume that Jack was with 
them.  There was only two of our battery 
caught, & 2 from Jacks.  I got a great surprise 
to know that he was missing when I 
got back.  I have let May Tilton know. 
We are expecting a big "stunt" in 
a day or two, & it will be a "ding dong" 
go.  We have a very good lot of chaps 
in this battery, & their work is fine.  You 
should hear our Battery fire 1 second, & 
our 6 gun salvo's, -  they are Hot stuff 
Well Mother dear, I honestly think 
that Jack is not killed or wounded, but 
just a prisoner, so tell Aunt Mabel & Uncle 
Harry not to worry.  I hope you are 
all well. - I wrote last week as 
usual.  My fondest love to all 
from  Your loving Son 
Norman 
[*SGFriend*]

France.  29/4/17 
My dearest Mother, & all at Home, 
I am 
glad to say that I am still like 
"Johnny Walker" (still going strong) 
& am out of the firing line for a 
spell, altho' Fritzs long range guns 
still shell us every now & then, & 
he generally hits nothing. 
There is no more news of Jack 
Tilton, & I suppose he is working 
for Fritz now.  A young chap in  
the 5^th Bty brought me all his 
mail etc, & I re-addressed them 
on to May in "Blighty".  I cannot 
think he was killed, because the 
boys of his unit went out & got 
the chaps who were lying in front 
of the village, & Jack was not amongst 
them. 
I have got several letters from 
Home this week, & a parcel of socks 
from Gravesend which were very 
welcome, & the letters from Home

2 
are very cheering.  Newspapers from 
Home are good to read, & I saw a 
photo of the Sth Yarra Railway  
Station in the "Australasian", & was 
surprised.  You never told me of 
any of these kind of things, or any 
alterations etc to the place, & I 
suppose you want me to get a  
big surprise when I return, & I won't 
be able to stand the shock. 
Today was voting day & I 
recorded my vote in the only way 
which is against those mongrels 
of Anstey & I.W.W.s.  If Hughes gets 
defeated, then it is a national 
calamity for Australia, & the place 
wont be worth living in. 
The old 4^th still has a few of  
the old boys left in them, & Jack 
Hall is the only old Sgt left.  Fred 
Conradi is in the 5^th Div, & came 
over to see me last night, & I am 
returning the compliment to-day

3 
I have been so glad to see them 
all again, & they are such dear  
chaps. 
We live very decently here &  
the weather is fine now, & things 
should get busy shortly, unless 
they are going to await America. 
I received 3 letters from Ruby 
Davidson last week, & I cannot 
think where all her letters went 
to, as I did not get any for months. 
So she has been out to see you 
eh? - a very nice girl isn't she? 
Yardley is in Hospital again.  The 
last time I saw him he was driving 
centre, in a mule wagon. - that 
was when we were going thro' Bapaume 
Well dears, no more news this 
week, so will conclude with fondest 
love to you all, & all relations. 
Your loving son 
Norman. 
Hope you are all well.