Letters from George Alexander Hugh Murray to his family, 1917 - Part 10

country to look at, for there are 
fields & farm houses, while at the
Somme you could go for miles
& miles & never see even a house
only heaps of brickbats.
I have just got word that the
mail closes shortly but no
time is given so I am writing
this one to make sure of one
going or written every week
Well I cannot think of any more
to say so I will close hoping you
are all well as I am to perfection
Your loving brother
George

France
September
2-9-17
Dear Lena
I have received no letters
from you for some time in fact

none from home either but
I met Les & went to his camp
& got the letters that were
written to him so I have not
fared too badly but why
can he get them & I cannot
for they must be travelling
about the country looking for 
me.
I cannot find any more trace
of Jim & Les has been to the
battalion & Saw Will Morrison
but all he could tell him
that some papers & Photos that
Jim had in his pockets have
been picked up, so I do not
know what to think about it
Buts let hope & pray that he

2

is safe & well, if in enemys hands'

Les saw Malcolm Kinghorn but could

not remember who he was. I saw

Gordon Cameron a few days ago also

Jim Haytie.

It has been terrible weather for

the last fortnight nothing but rain

and wind & very cold into the

bargain Very funny weather for

this time of the year but one

must not forget that the

winter is drawing near & I can

say that many are dreading the 

idea of doing duty here through

the winter months for the last

one shook the colonials up very 

much.

The Frenchies have most of their

harvest in now but no sooner

is one crop off the ground

than they have another to

take its place. All the cattle are

stabled & during cold weather

are never let out

before a nice

fairly comfortable

room but there is no glass to in

the windows where it should be &

fo the place is very draughty, rain

comes through the roof & there

has been a shell through the

rear part of the building

Well I cannot think of any

thing more to say so I will close

with fondest love

Your loving Brother

George.

England

September 11-9-17

All at home

I received your ever welcome

letters just before I went on

leave. I & another chap were

passing the time away by walking

through Deltote village when

a runner came to me & told

me I had to go on leave at

once I just had an hour to

change & go six miles to a

place called Reglingham to catch

the motor lorry to  Borecque 

where I stayed the night &

then on to Lillers next day,

where I took the train through

St Omer Aire Hazebrouck

to Bologne landing there at

eight oclock. Les is quartered

about 8 miles from Bologne

The journey across the water was

lovely, hardly a ripple on the sea

Landed at 11-30 then off to London

Got fixed up & away by 5-30.

In one of your letters you said

that Rogash was posted as

missing, well I cannot understand

how that is for I seen him

on the 9-9-17 marching with

his unit that is if there is

only one by that name & coming

from that district

I have been in Belgium a long 

time round about Ypres &

Armentieres & Neuve Eglise but

now the unit has shifted

to Lillers near Bethune xx

on the Lens frontier so I suppose

the boys are in for another

warm time. The fourth Division 

is the only Aust. Division that

has not had a spell since

coming to France over 18 months

ago while the celebrated third

does one stunt & out for three
months. There are more desertions
in the fourth Division than
any other Regiment in the
British forces but it is no
wonder for it is simply
going in & out till you are
either killed or wounded &
once you are away from
your unit for a few days
you are struck off the strength
& thats the last of you as far
as you are concerned.
There has been some terrible
raid on & about London
700 casualties in one raid
mostly sailors in their Barracks
There was nothing ever published
about the Germans capturing one
English division at Neuiport 
&  Dixmudes . The men had
crossed the canal & the enemy
put a terrible fire behind

them and they had no guns to back
themselves up with & the Germans
advanced & captured or killed
the lot.
It is a lovely sunny day
no sound of the guns though
last night there was a bit of
firing.
I have not found any more trace
of poor Jim.
Well I cannot say any more
but will write again bf before
I go back to that inferno of
shot shell & gas.
Goodbye for the present
Your loving son
George.
Just six days short of 1000 days
since I said Goodbye to Melbourne
town. This year seems to have
gone on wings for it xseems no 
time since Christmas.
George.

Send on to Het

France
23-9-17
All at home
Back once more to the old life, it is
hard after being over in a peaceful country
for ten days but I hope the xxx 1914 men will
be sent home for that would be a proper
change & one that I could look forward to
soon that is getting on to three years since I
went away but this year seems to have
gone on wings for it seems no time
since last Christmas
It is very much like rain tonight & it gets
very cold just after sunset for the winter is
fast approaching
I can just hear the guns booming on
the front where the new advance was made
there has been a lot of rumours going about 
in regard to the depth of the advance but I
always thought it would have been a stiffer
job xx especially when the germans have been
fortifying the place since 1914 but is seems
no good at all to them for when the British