Letters relating to Oliver 'Trooper Bluegum' Hogue, 1915-1927 - Part 3

6
I honestly think he would be wiser to write the
picturesque stories he used to write & reserve
his bare facts for the history which will not appear
for a year or two).  Finish. Maliesh.
(Seriatim noted. Thanks Im trying to think of it
more um or my bad writing.)
Sorry about James affair but he is sure to win through
aright. Hope Side gets on well in Tye. I sent a few
cargo to him & the children some time ago
Sorry to hear of the death of old John Murray I never
visited Kilmore - often promised to. Ive sent a few 
cards to Mrs Ross & the Belyea's at times.
So glad to hear of Mum's steady improvement. Tell her
I'm thinking of her all the time. Also tell her Im
fit & well & having a good time.
Saw Bluegum the other day. He is looking well but a bit thin.
he says he has seen none of his stuff in the papers for since he
left Egypt Except June 8 & 9. Please send me any clippings of his
you can. Lots of love to all at home
Yours  Nol
 

Gallipoli-153-8
My dear Dad.
Just to say I'm still in the my very best
of health enjoying life & keeping out of the way
all the Snipers bullets & Shrapnel shells
Urger Windeyer was just in my dug out
was inquiring after Aunt Jus
The chief news is the Col Ryrie has been made
Brigadier General & Col Harris of the 5^th Rgt was killed
on the night of July 31. He was a fine officer & 
a real Gentleman. We are anticipating a real
big battle in about a week, you will doubtless
hear of it long before you get this
Particularly I want to write you re my book
I wrote a long letter article to Farmer Whyte recently giving
him exact instructions re the participation. I asked
him to see about all the articles written by E Trooper
Bluegum & attend to their publication in the Herald.
Then I wanted him to take each article for a
chapter in the book, edit it so as to give it
the proper perspective & have all ready so as to 
get it published at Short notice. The book must be
called 'Trooper Bluegum!' The name is ideal & is sure
to catch on. The anonymity behind which the author has
sheltered all along may be dropped & the authors name
will of course be given.
Why I write to you thus is because Whyte to may be
too busy to undertake it & in my case I would  

2
like you to give him a hand in an advisory
Capacity. For out of the fund of your vast journalism
experience will come much wisdom for the budding
author. If it is necessary to illustrate it you
could get any amount of appropriate pictures from
the mail T & C & Australasian who would be glad
to let us have them for the ad. In any case
I would like Brigadier General Ryries picture as a
frontpiece & if a few ^more are needed I would like
Col Cox Col Arnott  & Col Harris's photos
& if necessary Bluegum's also.
I'm sure Whyte wont resent your running
through the proofs & adding an appropriate
quote, here & there &c &c. Time & again I have
wanted to throw in an apt quotation from the
Classics, but not being absolutely certain if it aan was
forced to forgo the pleasure
The first few books published on the war in Australia
will sell like ripe cherries. The later ones will
slump. Now these have already appeared in the Herald
about 30 articles from Bluegum's pen & these are
almost ample for the book. They trace the
experiences of Light Horse - especially the
2^nd Light Home Brigade - from the time of interment
the camps the Nayagl & Egypt to the actual fighting
in Gallipoli. I think the book might well end
with the finishing up of Gallipoli campaign

 

3
There are persistent rumours that we go
to England when this is ^phase is over, in which case
I will be unable to return in time to see
the book through the press. Here is where
I would be glad if you could fire Farmer Whyte
what help is necessary. Articles will be sent
as often as the Censor allows & they should
at once he edited for the book so that with
out. The slightest delay they can be all put
in the hands of the printer.
Whyte has already written to Serg George Reid  for a
'Foreword'. In I am sure Sir George will
comply with the request but xxxxxxxx  xxxxx
say xxx xxxxxx inx- xxxxxx xxxxxx  xxx
xxx xxxx xxxxxxx  xxx:  Failing Sir Goerge I would 
be so glad if you could write a prefatory notice
running up the significance of Australias part in the 
war &c. What I want to emphasise is that the
book should be kept right up to date ready to give
the printer when I send the final article along.. I think
it might to sell like ripe Cherries. Bean's book cannot be
read for over a year at the very least. If the war
drags on I quite see the way to publish a second book
Do you Please excuse such a 'business" letter.
Will write a home letter later. No mail for a few
weeks here. Hope all my letter reach home aright
Best love to all at home
Nol
 

Gxxxxxx  Rxxxxxx
My dear Dad Mother Ann Jean Tim [[Leodd?]]
Mabel Viva Did Phil Liz Francie
Kathie, Mrs Kyle Viv Lin Bill Sophie Farmer
Tres Whyte Percy Allen Nephews Nieces &c
I've just Come back to one of the 
transports off General for a hours
I am fit & well - never better in my life
when you read the full Story of the Australian
attack for the Lights here you will
for ever  afterwards want to take your
hats to an Austrln Soldier. It was wonderful.
We have had the way paved for us to a 
large extent. When I landed with the
Brigadier bullets were  dropping at round
the water. We  had to backup
into a launch & then into a small dinghy.
The Turks have a Concealed battery that
we cannot locate & they are always dripping
shrapnel on the beach. Fortunately they

 

were quiet when we went ashore (at night).
they were too bust elsewhere. For jovial Linemen
in Sauders Emulated the Kaiser & Jane ordered
that all the hazards they must drive the
Australians back into the sea.  or kill them
all. To do this he detached xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx & they hurled themselves with great
Courage an to the Australians lives. But
our chaps had the big end of the Stick this
time. Though unmounted more than 3
to one they repulsed every attack & General
Birdwood reckons that there are now at
least xxxxxx dead Turks outside our trenches.
Time & again they charged but each time
they hurled back. The fusilade not



 

3  deafening. We held our fire till
they were about 40 yrds from
the trenches & then we poured it in.

They were brave enough. I was
not in the trenches last night
but was about headquarters 300 yds
in the rear. But the fusilade
kept up all night without cessation.
 Our chaps have now learnt to hold their
fire; the Turks honour wasted a tremendous 
amount of ammunition. General XXXXX
xxxxxxxxx xxxx is very proud of the way
our fellows fought So no fxxx  Bxxxxxxx
The latter (i was slightly wounded the other 
day. A bullet struck him fair in the top of
the head, only tore the scalp a little.
It was a lucky escape. But I fear
poor old Gxxxxxxx Bridges is gone. He was
struck by a chance bullet which
severed the femoral artery & vein. A doctor
fixed him up & he was sent on board
a ship for Alexandria but I fear he must
die. All the naval officers are loud
 

4 in the praises of the infantry. No other troops 
in the world could have accomplished what they did.
At another spot the English regulars landed formed up &
were mowed down with machine guns. x xxxxx xxxx But
our fellows threw off their packs & great coats & fixing
bayonets charged each man on his own. There was
no formation at all. It was the only thing that
saved the situation. Boatload after boatload tumbled ashore
& scrambled up the hillside. Darghai was a flealute
to this. When I got ashore I marvelled at the possibility
of our chaps soldiers doing what they did. The hills were mined & 
the Turks were strikingly entrenched with St plush machine
guns. This morning The landing & carrying of the Lights
will be recifuised as one of the most magnificent
episodes of the whole war. I would give a 
lot to be able to say I had been through it. But
there is plenty of fighting ahead. . . 
 

5    
Quite the best fun here is watching
the airmen dodge the shrapnel. Forbid
one of our air pilots (a Frenchman I think)
went up to reconnoitre the enemys
position. When he got past our
lines the German gunners started to
fire on him. We could see the 
shrapnel bursting & each time they
missed him our fellows cheered. Our 
airman stayed aloft for an hour &
a quarter & we saw no fewer than 
40 schrapnel shells burst all round
him. Yet he escaped without a
scratch. He dodged this way and that
& the gunners never could guage
the elevation & distance. He 
got a great reception when he
landed. He was able to see
the Turkish troopships bringing up reinforcements
to attack the Australians north of Wxxx
& he warned General Hxxxxxxxx who was 
thus able to prepare a warm reception.
 

6 We get no news here of the rest 
of the war & not much of the Dardanelles.
You all know more than we do. So send
a few heralds & mails along please & Australasians.
We reckon getting to Constantinople some 
day but have no idea when. We hear
r-that Fritz has at last Come into the scrap
but are not sure. You'd just love to
see our dug outs line. Cosy little Sand Coy
hut on the side of a hill & in sant the
Indians lead the ammunition & supply mules. 
Everybody is Cheerful & Confident. 
Good luck
Ol