Letters of John William Axtens, 1917 - 1918 - Part 12

Havre
12.2.19.
39.
My dear Father & Mother,

Here I am in what
is my pet aversion – a Base job. I
am supposed to be on the Demobilisation
Staff but so far – have been 12
days here – I have no definite job, &
am hoping they find that they can
do without me. I was given the
glad news a few days after my return
from Paris & left the Company at the
unearthly hour of 6 a.m. on Jan 29.
Went by motor lorry to Charleroi, &
had the afternoon & evening there, leaving
by train next morning. We had
the usual troop-train journey, Consisting 
of many long halts – up to
nine hours some of them – &
a few bursts of speed – 15 mph.
Anyhow after 53 hours in the train
we arrived at Harfleur & reported at
the Depot. This is a wonderful place
for meeting people – I have met
numbers of old school pals & acquaintances

of Egypt, Grantham & New Guinea.
Everyone passes through here to be demobolised.
Ray – & Reg – arrived
a few days ago. He expects to get over
to England within a week. They get
14 days leave before embarkation &
then spend a few days in depots –
he ought to be sailing in four or
five weeks from now. I have hopes
of getting away from here soon. I sent
out an S.O.S. to Col. Marsden when
I heard I was selected for the job & I
hope he will be able to help. He
is on Demobilisation work in London.
The weather is beautifully fine but very
cold – especially at night. Our chief
amusements are Bridge & entertainments
in the Camp Cinema. By the way
the largest Cinema building in Camp
is called the Lismore Y.M.C.A. Cinema.
There is a big Aussie mail in, but
mine has not arrived from the
unit yet.
Fondest love to yourselves & all the kids,
Your Son, Jack.
 

40
France.
28.2.19

My dear Father & Mother,
Two home letters
came along to-day, one from Bowral & one
from Byron Bay – these are the first
for some time.
My last letter home was written from
Le Havre where I had been sent on Demobilisation
work. Since then I have been
recalled & joined the Company. Had quite
a lot of travelling to do to get back – I
was just about to get on the train at
Havre, when I got orders to go to Rouen 
on Court Martial duty. Arrived on Sat'y
found that the C.M. was not tull till
Monday ; in the interval I got a rotten
cold & had to stop in bed, so missed
the Court. Finally left Rouen on Wednesday
by passenger train changing at Amiens,
Cambrai & Broigny, & reached home
next day.
Am going on leave in a few days
time so hope to see Ray, as he is

still in Blighty. The strikes have held
up Demobilisation a good deal but they
suspect to have it running smoothly in
a few weeks. My turn won't be long. I
hope.
Have practically decided on pineapple growing
in Queensland at Beerburrum (40
miles from Brisbane). Am getting fuller
particulars while on leave. Ray has
similar views – will have another
yarn to him about it before he goes back.
Am glad Mother had a bit of a spell
at Bowral & that you all had a decent 
Xmas at Byron Bay. Am looking
forward to some surfing etc.
How is Alan getting on with his
lawyer business? I hope business is still
on the upgrade, & continues.
Can't find any more news now – will
write next from Blighty
We have just handed in all our guns & other
technical gear so will be moving light
now. We move to Solre-St-Gèry near
Beaumont in Belgium on 12th March.
Fondest love to yourselves & all the kids
Your Son,
Jack.
 

42
Belgium.
14.4.19
My dear Father & Mother,
This I
hope will be the last letter you
will receive from me written in
this country. We have a big
draft of 250 leaving in about ten
days ; so we should be in England
by May. I got back from
leave ten days ago found the Bn
ready to move in the morning.
We arrived here (Nalinnes 11
kilos from Charleroi) two days later.
It is a decent village & the train
runs into Charleroi.
The money I cabled for while
on leave came along O.K. but
why did you send it to Uncle
Ewart? The bike is fine! I have
arranged with Galbraith to have 
it packed & shipped so it will only
cost freight & insurance. I expect
Ray has sailed by now; he was
to go early in the month. We
have fifteen officers going in this draft
so we ought to have a good time
on the trip home.

2.
We have had two shows by
the Concert Party & another is
to be on Friday next. I expect
they will come home intact so
ought to be an asset on the
trip. Several dances have been
arranged to which the belles of
the village are invited. Dancing
doesn’t appeal to me enough to
make it worth while learning.
The weather has been fairly
good & we have had some cricket,
but today it was very windy
& raining. My batman went
off to a training school in
England a few days ago; he
is learning sheep.
I’m glad you had a good holiday
at Byron Bay – it must
be good to get among the sun
& sand & waves. Am looking
forward to it. I forgot to acknowledge
a parcel I received
a few weeks ago. It had a ‘Star’
Special in it dated October 1
so I suppose it was sent

3
about then. Another, edible
but the worse for wear came
a fortnight ago. I also had a
parcel from some society in
Lismore sent by a Mrs. Cordery.
Please thank her for me
will you – it came during a
critical period when we could
not buy mess extras.
Hope Alan got on O.K. with his
Exam. If he was confident it
would help a lot. I had a
letter from Lola written at
Byron Bay. Frank & I are together
now as the 8 & 14 Coys
have amalgamated. He is going
over to England soon on non
military employment for a
month or two. Norm Winn
is over there now. Reg Webb
has gone home – should be
there by now. Andy Ewing is
now at Weymouth & going
home soon. My kit which
I lost while coming back from
Havre turned up the other

4
day. I have been overhauling
things today & reducing where
possible. We seem to get
a big accumulation of gear.
I had a card from Aunt F.
today, she is staying with a
friend of hers Daisy Skelton at
a farm in Kent. It should
do her good she ran herself
down a lot lately.
Don’t write any more after
you get this letter as I expect
to be on the water before the
end of May.
Fondest love to yourselves &
All the kids.
Your Son,
Jack.