Letters from Wilfred Griffith Barlow to Mr Goodsir Fowler, 1916-1917 - Part 1 of 2

Home again at 
"Basalt" 
Elsternwick 
29/7/16 

Dear Goodsir, 
I'm home again but this time 
I'm on final leave. I've got till Monday night. 
It seems very short but I'm making the most of it. 
I have my full company now of 165 men & 1 officer. 
Mr E Ryan (son of Dr Ryan of Glenferrie). He is a fine 
fella & I believe (though he is a RC) that we will be 
fast chums. I am delighted with my men & they 
think the world of me I so stimulate one to further 
efforts on their behalf. I had them at musketry for 
a week at Williamstown & I find I have some good 
shots. We are due to sail in August but nothing is 
definite. I was going to try a push up to the Ridge 
before I left but I can't do it. We are all well at 
home & I trust they will keep so till I get back 
for Mr B has plenty of work when all is well. 
I am fortunate in receiving a Case of magazines for 
my company from Gordon & Gotch & a wealthy lady 
is giving each of my men socks, shirts & underpants 
& Lt Ryan & myself a pair of 15 guinea field glasses, 
each. I told you my Coy is 5/58 Bn which is doing 
all the work at the front in France at present. 
(The Anzac Bn) It is good to reinforce such a 
fine Battalion. Col Davis is my Bn Com & General 
Elliot my brigadier (15 brigade) My colors are purple red 
so P.R. We are all so anxious to get away but no 
doubt will be just as anxious to return 2 our dears ones.

2 
Remember me kindly to all at the Ridge & let me have 
a "Ridge" letter at least once a month. If you want 
any news write to Mrs B to find out where I am any time. 
We are going to Salisbury Plains first. The trip takes 
about 8 weeks via Cape. I'd like a ride on Fairy 
again. Some day I may have that pleasure Aye? 
& I believe if Tich is there still & "Auntie" will not 
look I'll try a ride on him also. How is little Howie 
Fowler getting on? Surely she can write a letter to her 
old crabby teacher. She could write splendidly once - 
I suppose she has forgotten me. I have not forgotten any of the 
Ridge folk. I learnt a lesson in tidiness from Freddie 
Russell I think I'll never forget. Remember the night 
Fred & I stayed at John place. Well Fred folded his 
clothes with wonderful "exactitude" & I do that myself 
now even in camp I remember it. Remember me to Fred R. 
There are hundreds of incidents crop up as I write 
but I must write several letters now I have a minute 
of quietness at home. I have a nice letter from 
Wakhem school committee which I value & place 
alongside the one I got from the Ridge. When the war 
is over & all is quiet again I'll delight in again 
taking up my profession. Why since I got to camp I 
got my numerical from last school 95 so I think 
I must be a teacher Aye But this little "scrap" in 
France is very interesting to me at present & till I've 
won through that is where my heart & work is. 
Ta ta till next time Goodsir 
& don't forget a letter once a month at 
least. Yours very sincerely W.G.Barlow 
O.C. 5/58th Bn A.I.F. 
B'meadows

In firing line France 
2/3/17 

Dear Goodsir, 
I am at last at the nasty job. 
I'm having a little spell for a day or 2 after a fight. I had a quick 
passage to the firing line. I'm sitting now under the heavy gun fire of the foe 
yet we consider it is safe here compared with where I've been. This is an awful 
war alright. Now I know what it is really you people at home are spared a 
dreadful thing and I'd fight again after this war to keep it out of our country. 
There are sure very big guns first near me as I write & they keep shaking me. 
There are balloons & aeroplanes over head & a host of army parts abound. So far the 
eye can see. The Germans are retreating before us fast and we though pleased at 
this are wild at the distance we have to tramp to get at him now. They are blowing the 
whole country to pieces as they go. Of course our guns do it first. Fritz will be in a 
town or village & we'll simply blow him out of it (& then the village out too) with our 
guns. Then we rush forward & take his trench or is possible before he can destroy them. 
The beautiful places are just obliterated. I can't describe it but if you see a 
frightful picture of any of the Somme battle fields then you only have a glimpse of 
what the places are like. I have not lost 1 man yet and besides a cold am very fit 
myself. I continually meet old chums even on the battle field. The transport 
& all ordnance & stores munition depts of our army are wonderful & do excellent 
work. The old mule is a great friend here We march miles along "duck boards" 
to the firing line. There are so many shell holes that one couldn't get along 
without these boards. The loads we carry forward are very heavy & one 
feels inclined to fall sometimes under the load yet on we plod 
I got one letter from Mrs Barlow right up as I was fighting and I 
longed to get the job over to read that letter I can tell you

The germans are grand aviators & seem to be master here in the 
air but we're got him doing a retreat & are belting him back. 
The gas is a nuisance we have to wear our respirators all the time 
The beggar popped a few tear shells into my position the night 
I was being relieved but it didn't hurt us. We find he has lovely 
dug outs I had some on my sector up to 30 ft deep all clean & 
nicely boarded. The cunning beggars had left these dug outs ready 
for demolition with guncotton on the walls etc. but I took the 
explosive all off & then let my men go down below. He had trip 
wire etc to explode these things as we got inside I didn't like the job of 
getting these dug outs cleaned up I can tell you. Talk about mud I never 
saw such mud. We came out of the line fit to score a host of satan's soldiers 
let alone Germans. Long beards & dirty clothes boots & faces. Just like the filthiest 
person you've ever seen but all in good heart & glad to have a spell 
I've not had one letter from you yet but I expect some will come soon. 
We find the Germans are well feed & filled for the fight & it is sad to find 
when you enter a trench & take it that in the letters of the dead germans 
there are letters to their wives & little ones & maybe a photo etc. I hope 
the war will soon stop now for it is sapping out the best of men & 
all that is beautiful in civilized life. May be you'll read about the 
time you get this of our great advance. No doubt Fritz will call a 
halt directly & then we'll get shaft. They don't like the Australians as 
fighters. The scenes at night here are grand. yet terrible for the whole place 
is lit up by rockets & flares. Hope all are well & prospering at Ridge 
Remember me kindly to Millie & all your dear ones. I hope 
to see you all some day & then I'll talk (You are saying he always 
could) Your sincere friend W Barlow