Letters of John William Axtens, 1917 - 1918 - Part 10

31
France
6.10.18
My dear Father & Mother,
It's three weeks
since I wrote last, but the time seems
to pass so quickly, especially when there
is plenty to do.
I have had a letter from Dad (7.7.18)
& a tin of tobacco a week or so ago;
there is an Australian mail about
but I haven't had any yet. I think
that dud Ammunition Column addxox
address the Base gave you; delays
them a bit.
Now for the news — I am now
with the 14^th Company & at present
O.C. The late O.C. Capt Holmes has
gone to England on instructional
duties. It is a New South Wales
unit & a jolly fine lot of chaps in
it, so I’m getting on O.K.
We have just come out of the
line after a few days in as
 

2
Reserve Coy. We were very lucky &
only had 4 casualties (wounded). The
Company suffered pretty heavily in
the Peronne show but that was
before my transfer to it. While we
were in this time I saw part of
the St Quentin Canal where it runs
underground from Bellicourt — it is
a wonderful bit of work, opened by
Napoleon in 1802. It is tunnelled
for about six kilometres, & is one
of the means of defence of the
Hindenburg Line.
Everyone’s spirits are very high
just now, as we are on our
way back for a couple of months
rest, somewhere behind Amiens.
We entrain tomorrow —
I don’t think I have written since
Col. Marsden was taken prisoner, so
I’ll tell you about it now. He was
wandering about alone, up near
 

3
the front line during the day before a
stunt came off, trying to locate one
of our batteries (m. guns) & owing to
the front line being rather sketchy
both on the ground & on the map, he
managed to walk out between two
of our posts — Fritz collared him.
We captured next day the German
regimental Commander with whom
he had tea that evening. The
German say said that he had
asked the colonel whether our chaps
were fed up with the war & his only
reply was “not b—— likely”.
That was the only information he gave
them, refusing to give his name.
Everyone is looking forward to hearing
from him that he is all right, but
we’re pretty fed-up about the whole
affair. Ray is O.K. & I’m well as
usual. No more news just now.
Fondest love to yourselves & all the
kids. Your son. Jack. 
 

32.
France.
17.10.18
My dear Father & Mother,
The Aussie mail
came along a few days ago after a long
wait — I had two 3 home letters
July 14, 21 & 28, & also a parcel; all of them
very welcome. Ray also got his mail
including a couple from home.
We are now established for a long
spell in a fairsized village miles from
the war — not even bombing raids.
We are pretty comfortable although it
is quiet, but there are several other
places worth visiting within easy
distance. Abbeville is only about 25 kilos
so I may visit there in a few days.
We’re having fairly decent weather — not
much sun, plenty of clouds, a little rain
& so far no cold frosts. We train in
the mornings & have the afternoons off.
Frank Winn rejoined a few days ago &
has gone back to the 8^th.
 

2.
Today a new Colonel arrived — he is
an infantryman so don’t know how
he will tackle this job yet.
Everyone has gone to a Divisional
Concert Party show in the next village
so I’ve got a change of writing. I intend
going tomorrow as it’s a splendid show.
Usually we spend the evening at
Bridge — Auntie Mill’s favorite.
We have a Frenchman attached to
Batt. H.Q. & he has introduced “Picquet”;
do you know it? He does all the necessary
“parleyvooing” with the natives
re. billets etc.
I had a letter from Aunt Florrie today;
she & Grandmother seem quite happy
& comfortable, & are staing on at “Oakdene”
for the present; the house is a lot too
big for their wants, but there is no
need for them to take a smaller one,
financially, at any rate. Aunt Florrie says
she has booked for a Concert at Queen's
Hall as a surprise for Grandmother —
she doesn’t go into town much.
 

3

Now I've got as far as the third page

news seems to have run out, except

war news which I expect you get

fed up with. Still, things look so

rosy now that it's worth while

telling you. Fritz has retired - under

compulsion - along the whole front &

is now squealing for peace. No one

seems inclined to let him have it

just yet though. By the time you get

this I expect he'll be feeding out of

our hands. There is a substantial

rumour that the Australians won't see

the line again - Fritz will be glad.

The beginning of this turn of the

tide was when the Aussies & Kanuks

hopped over in front of Villers Bretonneux

on August 8. Since then the
advance hasn't stopped. The French

& Yanks have done the same down

south & Tommies & Belgians up north.

Keep the beds aired Mum - I guess

we'll soon want them.

Lismore seems to have plenty of
 

4

social scope; Lodges, Philharmonics,

Tennis Clubs & Choirs etc. I'm looking

forward to joining some of them.

I'm glad Alan is doing well in

his job - he's a brainy kid & ought

to do well. How is Geoff's crop of

boils getting on - he has my sympathy

if they're as bad as abcesses.

Re - parcels - the only things which are

practically unprocurable are chocolate

- i.e. milk chocolate - & tobacco. Just

now we have some Comfort Fund tobacco

- Lucy Hinton & Havelock, but the supply

isn't regular. The chocolate manufacturers

have had their milk supply cut off, &

their wares are very uninteresting now.

Ray & I have plenty socks & other woollen

gear.

No 1565 is well, as usual - me too,

also as usual.

How is business doing - have you

take the place in Molesworth St?

This should reach home about Xmas,

so here's to the last "War Xmas" & best

wishes for a happy time. Fondest love Your Son

Jack

OVER.

 

Address:

5th Aust. M.G. Batt.

A.I.Forces.

You may include 14th Coy in the

address but its not necessary.

The last letters from home had

the correct address. Love

Jack.

Did you get my cable on Sept 9?

I hope this long letter won't give

you too much of a shock. I know

most of my Communique's are

a bit sketchy, but this one seems

garrulous enough for anyone, even
 Arthur Treloar.

More love.

Jack.

Do you like the socialist

envelopes?

This is the end, dinkum.

 

33

France

2.11.18

My dear Father & Mother,

I have just had

some Aussie mail including one from

Mother & one from Geoff, Alan & Lola.

Alan writes a much more "grown-up"

type of letter than Geoff - you would

think he was 25 at least.

There is very little news to tell

just now, except of course the splendid

war news. When I wrote last

Bulgaria had fizzled out & since then

Turkey has an armistice & last

night we heard that Austria had

followed suit. It doesn't seem possible

that Germany can hold out much

longer.

We have been very lucky with the weather

 - so far it has been fairly fine &

not cold. We have had the Divisional

Cinema here for a few nights,

& the sports are just about to begin,

so there is something to keep us

amused & interested.

 

Had a battalion parade & presentation of

D.C.M. & M.M. ribbons to some

of the men. We have had a good

number of awards lately including

3 D.C.M.'s in this company.

I'm glad Lola has done so well in

her exam. & hope Alan has the same

success in his.

They are starting an Educational

Scheme in connection with the

A.I.F. during demobilation demobilisation

(second attempt succeeded). If I'm

not too much rushed with work, I

think I'll take on a Course in banana

growing or pig raising - if they cater

for such pursuits.

Is business going on well?

I can't find anything more of interest so

I'd better finish.

With fondest love to yourselves

& all the kids.

Your Son.

Jack.