Letters from John Wesley Hetherington to his Family, 1916-1918 - Part 16

the big fight is. Things are anything but good there.
He has got another favourite place of mine, Kemmel.
I had any Xmas dinner there, and we were billeted
there about 5 weeks over Xmas & New Year.
It has been such miserable cold weather in Engd
rain and cold winds, just like January. Almost
forgot what sunshine is. I have had letters from Cousin
Jack, Maggie of Darlington and Aunt in Canada, also
a cake & pie from Wal's folk.
Foster has lost his 2nd Wife, Cousin Polly died of cancer
about a month ago, and Maggie to back at Nelsonby
again. Foster has felt the bereavement very much I
believe. I liked her and she was very kind when
I visited her & Foster. Maggie says, she has a shawl
of Aunt Janes to send Mother, but is rather afraid
to send it for fear it gets lost. I have advised
her not to send it at present though I know
Mother would be pleased to receive same.
Can’t quite understand Aunt in Canada. I wrote
after Xmas & sent Cousin Polly a small present from
Bailleul. They do not appear to have received
either letter or parcel. I have written again this
week. Aunt says she has sent me another parcel
People are most awfully terribly good to me.
I wish Senator Pearse would send all a return
to “Aussie”. Oh! That would be joyful.
 

I am in another leave party this afternoon up to London,
I feel quite a “cold footer” with so much holidaying.
Still I see & know lots of chaps who ought to be back
over the Channel before me. There still seems to be a fair
amount of tucker in Engd, not too much in London
[*NEXT
DAY*]
except in such places as the War Chest Club and YMCA’s.
Matches and cigarettes are at low water mark too.
That doesn't worry we much but it does hurt the
regular smokers. London seems much as usual. The
people are fairly confident always. I watched a Red
Cross train discharging wounded at Charing Cross last
night. It was fine to see the people buying roses and
primroses and throwing them into the Ambulances as they
passed out of the Station. Peoples hearts still beat in
the right place over here and it would do some of the
hang-backs good in Australia to see them receive these
men straight from the firing line, with their soiled
uniforms. They sit in most beautiful motorcars some
of them, lent by their owners for the purpose.
Wherever one goes in blue hospital clothes they consider it
an honour to help you, and I saw a lady get quite
indignant because a chap in blue stood to give her a
seat in the bus. She wouldn't hear of it at all.
I almost forgot to mention that I had been to see
Jim Hannahs fa brother in London a week past Sunday.
It was just like home again. He has such a fine
 

collection of books, so you can bet I was very much at
home for the few homes I was there. He has given up the
ministry whilst the war is on to serve at the
Munitions Dept at Whitehall.
I see you are once more thrashing the Volunteer horse.
Do you expect many recruits this time?
We here in hospital can feel the effect of that No vote.
It hits us right where we live as the Yanks say,
and if some of those brave people who pride themselves
on having defeated Conscription could only see
the haste with which a man is passed out here
after be reaches the Convalescent Stage, passed out
for furlough then - FRANCE, they wouldn’t
feel quite so much pride in their efforts.
I’ve been in this Convalescent ward 3 weeks and I’m
one of the oldest or longest in it. Probably to day I
may be marked for furlough. I feel a lot better
now so I don’t mind so much.
When I hear our chaps talking about having voted No I
tell them quite plain that they are the men who prevent
the 1914 men from going back. They don't like to be
told that but it is true. Australians just like to hear
what is nice. I also rub it in about them sending
men to work on munitions while the English & Scotch
have to go to France for them. I ask them what would
have been said if the situation had been reversed
 

Fancy Pommys going to Aussie, while Aussies were
sent into the trenches, what a roar there would have
been. Amway they won't have room to talk after
this.
Cousin Jack’s Roland is an a Torpedo Boat Destroyer
as Probation Surgeon. He likes it I believe and it
will be valuable experience for him in future years.
Just received Freds letter dated 20/2/18. containing
news re Win Browne. Well she let us down a bit
it appears but I don't eny the chap. If he
found it Cheap to be married at first he will
find it pretty dear with her before he’s finished
or else she will belie her name. ‘Tis a good
job there are no more to be bothered with over there.
Cheer up, Mother, we have to be thankful they
don’t call her Hetherington.
Shall now conclude a somewhat rambling
letter just had one from Francis Wilson too.
With best of love to Mother and all of you. It
is comforting to know you are not taking any
hurt. Tell Elsie I still collect papers, books, etc.
I wish I was there to be scolded again, what
heavenly music it would be to my ears.
Yours still alive & kicking
Wes/.
 

[*66*]
Somewhere in France.
Dear Folks at Home  Monday June 10/18.
I am writing a few lines by the wayside, as it were,
You will observe I am once more on the wrong side of the
Channel on my way back to the dear Old “Bat”, and we
are dumped down here for a few hours. It is raining
heavily and this ancient City has taken upon itself to
have ^a smallpox epidemic or something like that measels
perhaps, and as the dear kind powers that guard and
keep the soldier from harm down at the Base have put
the town “out of bounds” to us. I wish they would extend
similar restrictions over the front line. What a sensation it
would be towards us and find front line and the shell
zone “out of bounds.” Someday when dreams come true
perhaps it may be us, PERHAPS.
You will be somewhat surprised to learn of one being back in
France. Well there simply wasn’t anything else to do.
1914 men or anything else, ‘tis all the same. I suggested
I should be more useful on munitions but my medical
classification was too high. Meanwhile they bring men
even more fit than I from Australia second saloon
to take the place of conscripted men. Once a soldier
always a soldier whether you would be more useful or
 

not somewhere else counts for nothing. Oh! for a
“brainy" Government. I was supposed to have 3 weeks more
in England, but on my first day at the Overseas Training Depot
I missed a parade, and had the misfortune to tumble over
the Brigadier. So as I couldn’t give a satisfactory explanation
I was put on the next draft, thus missing 4 days ambulatory
leave. My three years & over service “in the field” didn’t weigh
as much with them as missing a 2½ hr parade.
So here l am back to the land of “Straaf”. Need I say
I’ve lost any enthusiasm I did have. The only
cheering feature I’ve met with since arriving back in
France is the great number of American troops I’ve
seen. They are in it with both feet. I was a
bit doubtful before but the sight of then is encouraging.
Well no more at present, best love to Mother & all
of you
Yours ever
Wes/.

ESCurnow
 

[*67*]
Dear folks at Home
Still in the land of somewhere
Sunday 4/8/18
I had intended writing last Sunday, but as we were preparing
to move back I was not able to find time. So here we are again
still at the same address. I’m writing this and tucking into some
toffee and cake from Aunt in Canada at the same time. They have
been real good to me. Polly also sent one lately. I think Aunt said
she had heard from Elsie recently. Wal's sister also sent a box of
cigarettes this week so I’m in clover. I got a letter this week from Else
and stacks of newspapers, and I’ve received a letter from Joe this
morning to say he had received that money all right for which I
thank you! He says he has not heard from you for quite a while
wonders what is the matter. Well I must thank you all for
looking after my interests so well, and I’m feeling somewhat
spoiled with so much attention being paid to me. Wish I could
thank you all personally, but there seems little hope of that though things
Do look better in France nowadays. The latest fighting has
been in our favour and it has bucked the men up a lot to hear of
the success of the troops “down South” We are at present standing
by. We’re going “somewhere” this next week but whether it is North
South East or West only the heads know. We only guess.
The troops are looking real well at present. There isnt so much
drill nowadays. That has been cut out to a great extent and sports
cricket football etc take its place. Inter battalion competitions
brigade & divisional sports make life more worth living for the men now.
It is quite different to the old Mena Camp days. That was hard
work. Today there is a great parade all the heads including King
George Shear are to be there also Dug Haig & Co. I shant be there.
We didn’t have a bad time up forward since I came back. One
Batt had a bit of a stunt or two and pinched a machine gun or
 

two from Fritz. They are on their way to the War Jasuem next.
I was interested to see some Spanish coins dug up near us one day
recently quite close to Hazebrouck. This old country has seen some fights
in its time, still it a far cry from the Spaniard to the “Aussies” or the
Diggers as everyone calls us now. We are in a new quiet French village
just now. The old church bell jangles now and again and lets us know
that it is Sunday again. Being on the main road there are motor lorries
Ambulances, etc, passing all day long, so they liven things up a bit.
Fritz also comes over on the fine nights, and it is one of the events of the evening
to see the searchlights poking round looking for him. There seems to be more
searchlights than Anti-Aircraft Guns hereabouts. The have managed to get
him in the light 3 or 4 times this week, though the plane sometimes manages
to wriggle out of it again. When our light finds him they all centre on him
so [sketch – see original] and it is more difficult for him then to slip out of the light
Then the Machine Guns and Anti-A/C guns open out and it
sounds like a small battle for awhile. They must have hit one chap
last week as he seemed to tip his load all at once, and what a row there
was. I shouldn't have liked to have been underneath that shower. We had
A canteen corporal killed a fortnight ago and I have a handkerchief near me
which was in a chaps pack near by. It is pierced by the small pellets all
over, and a new waterproof coat in the same pack was simple piddled. These aircraft
bombs are no joke I tell you. I have never felt so well for a long while
past. We have a good mess going and live well. The Batt is fairly strong
and health. Our VC. man Kenny left to-day for Aussie. All we
want now is Carmichels Thonsand to hurry along and finish the war.
what a lob of kidding to they take. Insurance policies, educational offers,
etc, we poor originals were born before our time. Four years to-day WE
got the idea into our heads to enlist. Four years ago and they are just
making their minds up now. SOME HIDE eh! What!
 

Well I have great hopes now of our 1918 prediction being fulfilled
and I shouldn’t be at all surprized if some of us were home for
next Xmas. I wonder what a unit of civvys would feel like, and a
nice pair of light boots. We have had real St Swithens weather since
July 14th rain every day almost, with warm sunshine intermixed
We have swimming here cricket, football, band contests, and a fairly free
and easy time. The boys have earned it as they have been in the forward
area since last Xmas.
I managed to pick up a few more souvenirs but haven’t had much
opportunity to get them home yet. Hope to be able to later.
I had one of the old N & D Assn to see me the other night. Dick Harrison,
he to quite near to us here, lorry driving. I have not received that Roll of
Honor yet from Mr. Aidys. Glad you see them now & again.
Haven’t much more of interest. I shall write & tell Mrs. Hannah about not
able to send her Jim's things, at present. I wrote his bro London last
week. Thanks to Else for her financial statement dont be afraid to take
some of that money should you want anything in particular.
Heard of a sad episode of the war near our QM store here. A young girl
about 14 her father & mother both died, has had 3 brothers & one sister
killed another brother a prisoner of war, she only being left now of the
family. Yet she is happy and laughing continually. Some of these
anti-conscripts should be here to see & hear things not 16000 miles away
I enclose a few cuttings of the plant growing all over fathers grave
for Mother. Best of love & Mother and you all
Hope the cold snap didn’t affect her too much
Shall write Fred & others soon
Wes/.
 

[*68*]
Somewhere behind the Push
20/8/18
Dear Bro Fred
I had been intending writing you this past week and
the receipt of your letter to day has decided me to fill in a spare hour
or so before we moved “forward” again to reply to it. We have just come
back for a few days for a wash & brush up as it were before having
another push at Fritz. It has been a more satisfactory stunt this time
than last years. we had a few casualties but not to be compared with
Bullecourt and Passhendaele. They do things better nowadays and
besides the weather has been all that could be desired quite Aussie
weather in fact. It is always interesting to see the traffic on the roads,
When there is a push on Motors, Caterpillers, Ammn limbers, troops and
prisoners, all travelling top speed and being sorted out into life loads
rail-heads etc Everyone is out for business, bar the prisoners and wounded
You’re glad to be back out of it all. We were near Corbie at first then
went on the old Austn front Hamel Villers Britteneux past where the July 4th
stunt took place and on to La Motte in Santeere. These villages only
exist on the map. They are simply heaps of bricks and wood, farm implements
had household furniture buried beneath the rubbish. We had two or three decent
dugouts, and you want them, the bombing at nights and after the first
push of surprize, the shelling day and night make sleeping in the open
a risky performance. When we have to sleep outside we dig down a foot or
two and make one sleeping quarters as narrow as possible. That is a partial
protection against surface bombs, but a canvas top isn’t very healthy for
either bombs or shells. I dug in alongside a cemetery the first night then
found a decent dugout kindly prepared by Fritz & Co Its only objection
was that it faced the wrong way and looked towards the direction of hostile
guns. So at night you could easily fancy a shell was coming in uninvited
I wasn’t lot safe to lie down in open fields a Tanks do a bit of
prowling around on their way to & from the front and when they go over
 

anything it puts the “Nepro” on it.  I didn’t see too many German dead
where we camped there were a few (I helped to bury one pathetic decent
young fellow) but the majority of German troops thereabouts had been
taken prisoners, and I saw a thousand or so of them in one batch.
Their officers looked glum, but the men seemed satisfied to be out of it.
The booty has been plentiful, all sort of things coming to light. The old Fritz
helmets that we haven't seen since Pozieres, fancy uniform, technical apparatus
of all sorts, one Battn salved a beautiful electrical plant, also telephone
exchange, valuable Divisional & Army Orders, and “beaucoup” machine guns.
There were Fritzy horses & carts, motor lorries and cycles with wonderful spring
tyres in place of rubber. Then there were samples of his ingenuity in the
way of paper bandages, paper string, paper sand bags. I enclose a piece of
“paper bagging”. I got a few souvenirs but it is difficult to get them away.
Well they seem to have Fritz guessing at present and one can scarcely
credit what a change has come over the Western Front this past month.
or so. Everyone is fairly confident now though there may be stiff fighting
ahead yet. I was honoured this week by being asked if I would take
a Commission. I asked for a day to consider and replied that I would
If I could take one in the Enginres, but that I did not fancy one in the
Infantry for Company work. I never did like forming fours etc To
that are going to make an enquiry for me. I have a much better & safer
job than a one star man in a Coy. Of course I should have 6 months
training in Blighty but, so I say I don't fancy foot slogging.
Rather pleased to be offered pips “though all the same”. Could have
been something higher than that had I taken Coy work on in Egypt
still I might not have been treading old Mother Earth to-day as I'm shafted
They are making the same old enquiry to 1914 this week taking
full particulars etc This has become something of a joke with us all
I’ve given at the idea until I actually leave France for Aussie
We have about 80 Red stripe men with us now, we’ll soon be
due for another stake by the way. What most of us dont and
 

Good long spell. Life for the infantry man nowadays is better than
it was formerly. While out on a rest they practice very little the old
form fours] and company drill. It is mostly sport now, swimming cricket
football, inter battalion, inter Compy matches with lots of excitement and
rough & tumble. We are at present in a pleasant little village on the
old Somme badly knocked about and still within big gun range
There is a Coy football match on and everything is OK, band playing
and a fine sunny evening. Perhaps next week - but there
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. I & the RSM have a
little dugout a foot down in the ground and made with two big
doors from an adjacent farmhouse placed so [sketch-see original] and it is quite
comfortable enough for Summer weather.
There are heaps of Yanks about, good hefty men they are, and fit in
very well, they arent at all noisy or cocky, and seem steady
chaps. We’ll need them all and its a God send they’re with us
and not against us. They wear the British tin hat use same wagons
limbers etc, and seems part & parcel of the British troops.
I reckon on the war finishing this year well another hard push
or two on Fritz like Strafe given time recently and it will be all
said whether he sees the year out or not. Anyway his Allies are
very shaky and that the next best thing. I should love to
be in at the death. I had a post card from Else this last week
always glad to hear from any of you though I’m rather lazy in
replying. I shall write to Mother & Wal soon, again all being well
fit, don't feel any effects of gas now.
With fond love to Mother and
all at Home
Wes/.