Letters from George Alexander Hugh Murray to his family, 1916 - Part 12

4 3
the Battalion's first trip 
into Pozieres for the first
night B Coy went into
the first line we they were
in for a terrible thrashing
for we they were continually
bombarded all night &
in the early dawn the
Germans attacked close
on 2000 strong on a
frontage of about 400
yards. They came over 
in five waves four reached
what became of the
fifth it no one seems 
to know. Those four
waves went through our
first line past the
second but they never

4
came back, what were
not killed were taken prisoner
but we did not come out
without our killed &
wounded for we had
three officers & 143 rank
out of 170 put out of
action, but we came
out on top but paid
very heavily for it but
it was absolutely cruel
to see the dead & dying
and hundreds calling
for attention but it
was very nearly impossible
to help them
for both sides kept
up an incessant
bombardment all
day long & well after
we were relieved
that night

5
B. Coy got all the praise
for holding the line &
saving it & by the Art
of Providence I came
through with out a
scratch but we were
not long out for in two
days back into the
front line & prepared for
an attack on the
renowned Mouquat
Farm but in the
end out our Cp Comy
Commander would not
let us go, not to say
that we were willing
for we were 77 all
told after being reinforced

& in the end 

6
it took a division to
take & hold it. Just
think of it 77 to do as
much as about 30,000
men. The Army all
over.
Well I have been in
some of the hottest
corners on the Western
front Two different
places Pozieres, I was at
Ypres & once at Fricourt
towards Peronne &
have only had a
piece of skin knocked
of my right hand. I think
I have had the
most marvellous
luck for some lasted 

only a few hours & their
first battles too.
For the whole Battalion now
you could not muster
150 that landed on
Gallipoli in the beginning
for you can guess how
we have suffered for
we have being reinforced
22 times in all about
2500 men.
I met my Bogash when
in the line last time
I have a strong idea that
Jim was wounded why
I do not know. I
tried again & again
to find him but
could not 

8
It is very cold tonight
& am sitting in bed
writing this not very far 
behind the firing line
for the report & recoil
of the guns shakes the
building
Well I have nothing
more to say so will
ring off
I remain
Your loving son
& Brother
George 

[*Sergeant

George
Murray*]

France
28/12/16
All at home
I have received
no mail or parcels from
you for some weeks now
but one consolation is
that not many of our
chaps have received
any mail for sometime
either, nor have I had
a line from Les or Jim
& I cannot make out
where they are.
Well Christmas is gone &
so we have to look forward
to another year 

2
of strife & by all accounts
it will be fast & furious
for by the time you receive
this winter will be about
over & the spring nearing
I have got another trip
to do in the line this
winter all being well
& it is for six weeks
too I done three weeks
not long ago & though 
it would never come
to an end. By all accounts
we are to be in the line
about the sixth of the
new year.
At present we are billeted
not far from one of
the principal towns 

3
& so many are allowed
leave daily, but we
have solid drill at
other times. Drilled &
shooting on Boxing day too
sports on Christmas day
Well I cannot think 
of any thing more
so I will ring off
hoping you are all
well.
From your loving son
& Brother
George 

2
It keeps me awake alnight &
when I go on parade it & stand
a while it simply gives me
rats
I saw Doctor Woollard in
London one day. He did not see
me so I did not speak. He
must be out of the army
now for he was in civilian
clothes.
One of Leslie's mates told
me that he was alright
when he left the peninsula
That was about seven weeks
ago but many things can
happen in that time. He
has not written to me since
September.
We have a lovely big
recreation room in this camp
There is a lunch counter where
you can get anything you need
besides all kinds of games &
amusements.