Letters from John Wesley Hetherington to his Family, 1916-1918 - Part 13

If a man has been 12 months or over in France without Home
leave he is entitled to it. Now I know some men who have
spent the greater part of their time "swinging the lead" down
about the Base hospitals at Calais etc Such a man could
spend 9 months down there and come back to the Bn and claim
his leave equally with the man who had been 9 months  in the
firing line. These unfair systems are invented by Staff Officers
who themselves get leave every 3 months.
The orignals remaining had their photos taken on the 18th Oct
there are about 60 of us and some of them have put in a big
part of their time in Blighty. The number of men who have
done their bit by the Unit don't amount to so many as that.
We haven't one of the original officers left with us now, some of
the men in the photo I am sending you have been given commissions
as you will observe. As I have said before it wouldn't take
5,000 men to relieve the men who have really done their bit.
The last big stunt at Ypres was pretty hot and we lost some
of the original lads in it I am sorry to say. We, of the old
brigade ,always mourn the loss of these old comrades.
One man was killed recently. He had been wounded more
times than any other man in the Regiment. We called him
the Colender or Pepper Box. Another man has reported back
for duty this week. He has been wounded 5 times now, and
expects to get another before Christmas. He's had some bad
knocks too. Isn't it enough to make a chap feel "fed
up". And to think that there seems no prospect of such
men being relieved. I wish some of your strikers could
talk to these men after 6 days of hell on earth. I wish they
 

could only see the weary haggard faces, unshaven and
pale for want of rest.. And some of them had nowhere to get
in out of the rain & mud even after they came out of the line.
They arrived at our camp in the darkness, and there wasn't
enough accomodation for them all. I had to make two trips
to the Area Commandant to try & obtain tents or other shelter for
them Then the tents had to be pitched on wet ground. Yet
I heard very little grousing The men who did growl were
in a batch of reinforcts who arrived from England the same
night. They growled, and they also got a "telling off"
by the Adjutant He threatened to send them up to the "line"
to see what it was like up there! They shut up after that.
Well I'm fairly comfortable, plenty of tucker & clothing. I
don't care for the coming prospect of winter again but I
suppose we must get through it. The British gave Fritz
a severe fright this last stunt and if we could only have
have two more months of good weather we could knock spots
off him. He can't fight as he used to. We have been back again
for a short spell, but expect to move forward again soon.
I will send you some photos on as soon as they are available.
I wrote Mr Strongman recently. Haven't heard from you
for some time now Many happy returns to Elsie and Mother
Glad to hear Fred is doing so well for employment
 

hope he will soon have a permanent bosses job.
I shall try to write you all, gradually.
Just had a card from Graham. He wants me to
send him my address. Well that's a puzzle at 
present it is Belgium with one leg in France.
Almost too dark to see to write now and we have to keep
blowing our lights out at night now every time Fritz
comes over the Camp. These bombs are NO BON I assure
you. I hope brother is keeping much better now.
Tell any of my friends that I'm OK but FED UP.
I would give my back pay to be able to sit by the fire
in peace & comfort.
No more wandering after this.
With love to you each & all
Wes/.
 

[*60*]
Somewhere in Flanders.
20/12/17
Dear Folks at Home
2o/12/
38
I returned from leave a few days ago, and I'm
feeling a little homesick. Somehow a chap is always
praying for Blighty leave, then when he gets it he can't
settle down on his return to Soldier-land. We are never
content whichever way up we are. Well the leave was really
worth going for this time, we get 14 days now and it makes a
wonderful difference I can tell you those extra 4 days.
I managed to get round pretty well but ran myself short
of time towards the finish and I regret to say I missed
seeing the folk at Langley this time. I used up two or three
days going to see Jim Hannahs people at Greenock. I suppose
you  would get my wire from there. Well I was rather glad I
went as Jim's Mother was delighted to have a visit from me
and made me ever as comfortable. It is very nice up there
too though 'twas very cold with snow on the hills. It was
like being at home again, climbing into a big soft bed.
They say it is always raining at Greenock but it didn't
while I was there in fact. I didn't strike one wet day
all my leave so I was fortunate. Then I went to Yorkshire
and stayed one night  with Foster and one at Cousin
Maggies. I was at Mats too for tea. He has a fine cosy
place and seems in a good way. Fosters wife has been
 

very ill, undergoing a severe operation. She still has
a nurse in attendance and appears very weak, quite
different to what she was when I saw her last.
Uncle Joe & aunt all both buried at Melsonby.
Maggie still carries on teahouse and has a lady from the
Grammar School staying with her. They're not taking much
hurt any of them so far as worldly possessions are concerned.
I was up at Cousin John for a night, he is very well but Bella
was rather sick. Roland has gone into the Navy as a sick
steward, they intend making him a doctor I think, so it will
be a bit of training for him until after the war is finished,
When I suppose he will resume his studies.
Willie Oliver has had to join up, and they have had to close
the shop after being established 38 years. His Mother
is badly cut up about him having to go and it does seam
hard on them seeing he is the only one left.
There a lot I such similar cases of hardship and
it would make some shirkers in Australia feel ashamed
if they had any feelings at all, if the heard how much
some families have had to give up
Girls are doing all sorts of jobs in England today and it is
amusing to see then getting about in dongaries and breeches
I called at Oakham on my way back, and managed
to miss the train beautifully for an  extra days leave,
which was just what I wanted. Things were altered
 

somewhat from when I was there last, and they have
a great deal of difficulty in getting such as tea sugar
& bacon and even matches. The farmers don't take much
hurt, however. John & I called to see Mrs Rutherford and
had supper there. You can guess what a tale she had to
tell about the difficulty of getting butter, etc. She's still the
same old Mrs Rutherford. She longs for Mother to return to
England. What a tale she would spen for Mother. Job's
tribulations would be nothing to it, I didn't see Mr R. as
he had retired early on account of going to work early
Their son Tom is in France I think, And so is Lonie's husband,
Of course the Besham folks are going on same as ever. They
are cramped for room at present and Meg has all the house
work to do, the girls working out. Elsie is in a fruit shop
Edith a very nice looking girl is in an Office as typist, Mable
doing a bit of nurse girl and the others are OK. Violet is a
nice litte girl, is fact they are all nice looking. Mable rather
like one Elsie when she was a kid, though of course our
Else great up an ugly duckling. (Who said that?)
Wal's folk are all well, his sisters husband has had to join up and
it to Italy I believe. I ought to say one of his sisters at home now
isn't too well. Phebe is going strong on the insurance buziness,
and his mother & grandad are well. I'm getting to know that
district well now,  & its chief products are PIES and good
pies the are too. Phebe writes me to say they are sending me
 

one for Christmas. Folks are very good to the boys in
khaki and it's some comfort when one gets swallowed up
in soldier-land to think of all the kind friends one has
I got you parcel when I returned from leave. Everything
was to the tin as you sent it but it must have bumped a
tank on the way over as the tin was considerably bumped.
As  a result; the socks got slightly mixed with the toffee and
the toffee with the handkerchiefs, so I'll have to get the toffee off
my socks, an put where it was meant to go. I'm sure it was
never intended to go  inside my boots. It is lovely toffee too and
I've got a bit stowed away almost afraid to eat it. I was
rather suprized to find you had these sort of has handkerchiefs over
you side, we've been used to burying them here to send you folks
on the other side as souvenirs. They're very acceptable all the same.
And the loaf arrived in beautiful condition, and was appreciated
by our small mess. I just know how much care & trouble Mother
would take with that cake and I'm glad it arrived O.K.
I must thank you for it, so sorry you went to expense over the
other that were lost. It is nice to receive a parcel from Australia
but I won't worry if you don't send any as so many ships
are being sunk that it is almost an accident when we
get them here. Glad you didn't send cigars, we get them very
cheap, and nearly ever regiment runs a dry canteen
wherewe can buy almost anything so, in the present uncertain
delivery, I shall mind a bit if you don't send me any.
 

The night I returned from leave I had a 10 mile walk to
join my Battn and I tell you it hit me hard after living
soft for 14 days. Then it has been bitterly cold this last few
nights ugh! You've no idea how cold, and we had to
travel 4 or 5 days, turning out morning at 3 am. UGH!
We are now just over the Belgian border but in a quieter place
than Yres and so for we havent been troubled with bombs or
shells. Good job too, Ypres is a nightmare every time, and
we dont want to go there too often.
We have picture shows & pierrot troups quite close to the front
and it is funny to see chaps lining as for the pictures and
big guns booming al round.
There are rumors that they are going to relieve the old boys at
the rate of 200  per month. I Sincerely hope so,
I hope the Australians here bumped conscription along this
time, we need it badly. Graham was on his final
leave before coming over here last letter I had from him.
I sent Mr Stronghman some placards for the window of the little
shop when I was on leave.
Shall now conclude for this time I'm O.K. got a cold in the
head thats all,
With best love & regards
to you on & all
Wes/.
Hope Fred has plenty of work still.
Shall write some of the others soon
2 years ago we were sneaking off the Peninsula
 

[*61*]
[*I notice you address my
papers AQMA,. It 
ought to be RQMS)*]
[*(Regimental Quarter Master Sergt0*]
Somewhere in Flanderss

4/1/18
Dear Bro Fred
I seems quite a while since I wrote you and you
will be thinking me neglectful. Well, really things
pursue such an even course just now that I haven't
had anything much worth writing about, and letters
from your side have been so scarce that I couldnt
write even about them. Andway we had another leave
to dear Old Blighty, 14 days and enjoyed it well. I'm
getting quite well known around London now. (I
don't think) in fact Old Nelson winked the only
eye as I passed Trafalgar Square. If I had lingered
there long he might have stepped off his lofty perch
and asked me how Douglas Haig could spare me so
often away from France. I only stayed in London
long enough to go to the waxworks, and to milk
the old money cow at Horseferry Road the home
for Gallipoli heros many of whom were "never there"
You ought to see them at Horseferry Road, done up
like a sore finger, emu plumes (kangaroo feathers)
KIWI boot polish even on the leather patches of their
riding parts. Ye Gods! Then they go over to
the War Chest club for a cheap meal provided
by the generosity of the people of Australia
 

for the men who are really doing the job they
came away to do. They are fairly civil to
the men over from France they've  been told some
plain truths at times to remind them, but stay a bit
over your leave & give them a chance of getting
one in on you and they use it for all its worth,
I was a day overleave and unknown to me they sent
it on to the C.O, and I had to toe the mark at
Orderly Room.. 24 hrs overleave after waiting 15 months
and after soldering for 3 years 3 months without a
mark against me. Well soldiering teaches you how
to work your way out of such troubles and I had
it off pat. Fog delayed any train, arrived late
for connection to Folkestone, put in an Railway
Transport Officers voucher to that effect. Case dismissed
Left the court without a stain of any tunic
Shan't tell you my opinion of Horseferry Rd after
this episode. Ugh!
Well here we are bang up into Flanders again not
or from where the battle of Messines was fought and
I must say it is the best part of Belgium I've
soldiered in so for. It is a much HEALTHIER
part than away up Ypres. Too much sudden
death up there for my liking, if you don't