"From One who is Never Down Hearted" C.Anderson

Right address 22nd Coy 2 nd M. Gunn Batt

France 17.7.18

Dear Colina just a line wishing this to find you the same as it leaves me at present.

I received a big bundle of letters today, they were all dated feb and march. I have had April mail a good few days ago but this lot was sent to the 10th M.G.Coy on account of me going to the 22cd M.G. Coy. You see, I am in a divisional Coy now, that is how my mail has been so long in turning up. You have no idea how our boys enjoy there (sic) mail. I look forward for nothing better than mail. I wright (sic) as often as I can, some times I forget who I do wright to. I am glad you received the handkerchiefs and cards, I cannot think of anything else to send and you can always get handkerchiefs  and nice little cards, you can just put them in an envelope and they are no more trouble. it is a risk sending anything of any value. I all ways think these little trifles will make you think that I still think of you friends I left behind. I often wonder what you all are doing. I bet things are on the quiet side in the old town. 

well judging (from) these confounded guns roaring old hun is not having a quiet time. He give us a rallie up last night with gas shells and H.E. shells but I am glad to say they were fruitless because he never got any of us. The old gas mask is not a bad friend. I do not take the least bit of notice of gas but according to the Hun prisoners  they lose a terrible (lot) of men from ours, as at present the French and our good old Pals the Yanks are giving him the bigest caneing up ever he got and our lads are bringing a bag of them in every night. My word the Ausies do put the wind up the beastly Boche. For weeks now the Australians name have appeared in the daily papers so you will have an Idea that we do not let the grass grow under our feet and I am very glad to say that since he stated his offence if he has not knocked us back one inch but we have pushed him back ever since March.  I have done my little share in this outfit.

  I have not seen Jack Collie for a long while, now when I get near the 37th I will try and find him. I lost one of my best Pals on the fourth of this month.  The night Tom got wounded, I was with Tom at the time, I did know any thing about it till I woke up all covered with blood and my body was all black and blue.  I asked what became of Tom and they told me they had sent him to hospital.I was on a strecher in the field Ambulance where they took us.  They wanted to send me to hospital but I would not go ! I wanted to see how my mates got on and see what damage we done to the beastly boche.  I got a shock when I found out my little friend was killed. He was on the same gun as me and all so our section officer, one of the whitest men that ever wore a sambrown (?) We took a Cross to their grave yesterday.

I sent Doll the slip of paper with the account of the battle. We took 1400 hun that night. The last I remember was putting a burst from our Machine gun into about dozen beastly Boche. Well needless to say, they are at present were all good niggers go. 

it is tray Bon sport on the old M.Gun when you get  such a good target so close we must get rid of the brutal huns and the old diggers are the boys to put them in their place. Well  Colina I don’t know that I should tell you about fixing these huns but you must have an idea what we do and what we are here to do. There is nothing like the plain facts. We are not hard hearted. These things must be done. I must say this war has not made the lease bit of difference to me.  I do my duty honestly and I am proud to say that I have not got one mark or crime against me. I have played this game so far and I intend to, right to the end. I am here at my own risk and I am not in the least sorry. 

 Well Colina you said perhaps I lost my wallet,  no I still hang to that.  I get a good many letters from Cathie Spence I had one last week saying she expects Son over anytime now they are getting married very soon now.  I will very likely be over at the time I am going on leave in a few days I will tell you what bonny Scotland is like.  I intend to have a Tray Bon time. I have not started to smoke yet you said I would in trench life but I have since the 17/march 1917 and have came out of it yet.

well I must ring off from one who is never down hearted

 

(Ed note:  end of letter is in drawn margins at the top of the page)

Tom is doing well Rueb is in England Don and Will well.

From yours Sincerely Charles Anderson

"The Longest Job I had, not the Best" C.Anderson

France. 12/7/18

Dear Colina 

just a line hoping this to find you as well as it leaves me at present.

I received your letter and was very glad to here from you. Tom got a little crack on the head. He got his skull fractured. I had a letter fro him to say that he is doing well. He said it was tray Bon Between sheets on the Spring Bed and nice kind Sisters to look after you.

  I all so had letters from Donal and Will. Rueben is in England on home service he has a good Chance to get home.  I had a letter from Cathie Spence.  She tells me that she expects Son over shortly to get married I will very likely get over there about the same time. Rom met Son a few weeks ago I think he looks a bit old a few years of this life makes a vast difference to anyone.  Well Colina,  our Boys have been stinging these beastly Boche up again we bag somewhere on 14:00 on the 4/4/18 and  a lot more since I see by yesterdays paper that Don's Batt have been giving him some hurry up. They are the Boys to put the wind up Fritz We now have new friends the Yanks to help us. they are good fellows the Ausies get on very well with them. I met Tom Dolly the other day he was going on the line he is in the 6 M. Gunn he looks well. I met a lot of my old Batt boys the other night I had a night sport with them before they moved forward to hunt the Confounded huns.  They are the boys to give them hurry up.

  I sopose Colina every thing is on the quiet side over on the old Stanhope Road.they are not so quiet here the Big Guns were going some this morning you could hear all the noises in the world at once but she is not such a bad game, after all there is one thing a man need not be afraid of getting the sack. this is the longest job I ever had, not the best, I have had better.

well I sopose it will come right in time, I will be right back in good old rushworth some of these days.  This war ort to be over in 10 or 12 years a man will have a good deferred pay enough with the old age pension. Ha.  But we will be the Winners good winners too.

Well Colina, I have very little news to say so I will have to close. Wishing you my best wishes, so goodbye, all is well with the Australians, they are all in good heart.

From Yours Sincerely,

Charles Anderson

"All on my Pat Malone" D.Anderson

25.6.18 France

Dear Coina

I received your welcome letter this week and I was pleased to hear from you.

 I thought that you had forgot all about me.I have received I think about three letters from you since Dec 22nd.  So I can see that you have got  tired of writing.

I had a long letter from Mary Cameron last mail & one from Doll also.

I suppose Rube is home by now.  You told me what you had received word about him.Well I walked nine miles to see him that day has I only had a letter a few days befor from him so you can see I lead (?) a walk to hear good news of him.

I only wrote to you a few days befor.  So that is why I could not let you know about him then.  How is Fred I believe you have beat Lucy for him but I don’t think you do anything like that but you hear some funny news at times  don’t you?

 Charlie Tome & Will are all well the last time I heard from them but it’s a good while since I saw any of them so I am all on my Pat Malone 

So now I must say goodnight as its to dark to write 

Kind Regards From  

Yours Sincerely

 Don Anderson

"If I am Spared" L.Spence

France

June 24th 18

Dear Colina

Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter I received yesterday.

I was glad to hear that you are all in the best of health as it leave me the same at present.  You want to know if it true about Cathie & Alex. Well I had a letter from Cathie the beging (sic) of the month & she said that Alex was going to put in for special leave at the end of the month & they are to be married, that the first she let on to me about it.  I had a letter from Alex also last week & he was telling me about trying for leave but he did not say what for.  He can have them all on his own for me their plenty out their for me when I get back that if I am spared.

Cathie was saying that she expect Charlie Anderon over on leave any time now as they have started it again They stopped it for Two months while the push was on. I bet the girls will be going mad when they hear that Son married.  The last letters I had from Violet she said she did not believe son was engaged so I don’t know what she will say when she hears they are married.  I see Elsie & Mc have done the truck he told me when I left that he'd wait for me to come home before he would get married I suppose I have been too long on my tour that he could not wait any longer.  no one had the slightest idea that it would last this long when I left.  It looks like it will go on for a couple more years yet the way things are going at present they don’t look too bright on it.

I had a letter from Lucy & she was saying that they had grand sports up their on Easter Monday.  She said Lilly Pearson & her sister got first prize in the procession.  I bet Lilly look hard case dressed as an Indian you would have to look twice to see if she was their she's that small.

I have not seen any of the Rus(hworth) boys for over 8 months they were all well just before the push started. Well that all the news at present remember me to all With the best of love 

From Your loving Cousin Les xxx

"A Rough & Fast Little Affair" C.Anderson

RDear Colina 

Just a line to let you know that I am still in the land of living. Fritz has not snared me yet,  the Boys have been caneing him up lately. I have not give them a hand in any of these stunts since the 17/4/18, I am still in Convalescent,  I had a fairly lively time just before I left. 

it is not near so bad on the Machine gun as in the infantry I had my share of the Inf.  Tom is still going strong he has not been away from the M.G.Coy since they came to France, this is my third time away. I was buried by a shell explosion on the 7th of june 1917 and only had 5 weeks spell and I got a little crack on the 14 Oct 1917 and only had 3 (could be 9) weeks in hospital and I came back in time to give fritz a few bombs in a raid. That was the best bit of sport I had since I came to France a raid is a very rough and fast little affair,  in and do him as much harm as you can and fetch back a fritzy or two, not to many for the undertaker as we can. 

Well Colina they are very little to say I am going out for stroll through the forest with the Padre we have many a joyfull afternoon in these dear old woods,  it really reminds you of the old bush at home. Ha. To be back amongst the golden Wattle Blossom!  them times will soon come again I hope. 

Well Colina I will Close wishing you my best wishes From 

Yours Sincerely Charles

"Dodging the Old Iron Foundries" C. Anderson

France 10/5/18

Pte CG Anderson

22nd MG Coy

A.I.F.

 Dear Colina,

Just a line  wishing this to find you all as well as it leaves me at present. The weather is Tray Bon over hear now. This is a lovely place where I am at present. All the Beech trees are beautiful, they are all pretty green, they (sic) are some lovely forests about and they are better still in Belgium where those beastly Boche have rein and the lovely little farms all smashed to atoms. They will answer for all there (sic) terrible crimes. People in Australia have not the slightest idea what those poor Belgium and french people have to go through. I can tell you, it is heart breaking to see their pretty little homes shelled to peaces (sic). Where old couples have reared their families and lived a peaceful life. Well it will all come right in time. Us Machine Gunners have payed them Boche back for some of their cruel doings but not as much as they are going to get. All the old Ausy Boys are still in good form and cheerful no matter where they are, you never see them down hearted. If you sing out to a battalion or a crowd of Ausy lads 'Are you downhearted?', you will hear a great roar of No! That is the right way to be. I never lose any sleep over this show, it must come right in time and then for the good old times.

I suppose you have a fatted calf for us, for the five of us will eat you all out of house and home. I only way (sic) 12 stone, 8 lb now so I have gained weight on the army rations pork and beans. Ha, for the good old roast again. Colina don't you think some of them fellows ort to have their feet warm by now, you know you can do with a few jockeys to have a ride in our next handicap . I am a little overweight but I will have to keep the ball bouncing anyway. T is good sport dodging the old iron foundries and taking cover from those big birds that fly around and drop eggs on you, but our birds have the upper hand. You often see a (sic) air fight and you see the Hun drop down in flames. Well Colina I have no more to say tonight, I am going to the pictures in a few seconds so I must ring off.

I will send you some views of this place as soon as I get down to the town. Well so long, keep the home fires burning.

My best wishes from

Yours Sincerely

Charles

2641

"News from Home" L.Spence

France

May 8th, 1918

Dear Colina,

Just a few lines to let you know that I received your welcome letter this week & was pleased to hear that you are all in the best of health as it leaves me the same at present. You were saying hat George and your father having been doing a lot of contract work lately though it (h)as been that much rain it put them back a bit. It is a good thing to have so much rain early in the year, it look(s) like the signs of a good season. That's one thing we don't see over hear (sic), a good dry season. The grass is green all the year round. The country over hear is looking beautiful at present. It is the beginning of Spring, so it will give you an idea of what it's like.

I had a letter from Ethel the other day & she was saying that Ivor is getting a terror to (ed: can't decipher word) well she cannot expect much else from a boy at this age & I suppose he picks it up when he goes in home off the other boys.

She was saying that she (h)as her hands full now, she cannot go into the town just when she likes, she (h)as to get someone to drive her, so she won't like that. I see by her letter that they have taken to milk a few cows. I don't think that will last too long, she will soon get tired. What do you think? I no (sic) Ethel, it is alright while the weathers good & when the winter comes she will let them go and look after themselves.

I had a letter from Mum this week & she was saying that the Dr told her that she would have to take things easy for a few more months before she would be alright. She seemed to (ed note: portion of paper torn away, words missing from this line) ....... the one time it is to be hoped it's all over for some time to let her get strong.

I had  a letter from Violet the other day & she was telling me all about the trip to Tasmania & what a good time they spent. It is a wonder Any (?) went for a holiday so soon after her husband's death.

I bet Lucy is having a good time of it while George is over hear, she will make things hum for a while.

I had a letter from Cathie the other day & she wished to be remembered to you all when I wrote. They are all in the best of health.

You was saying that Dug wrote me a letter, I&wonted (sic) to no when I am going to answer it. Well tell him I have not received it yet to answer but it might come along at any time.

You were saying that the old town is looking up a bit when it can run (a) motor garage. The new form will be doing Mc a little harm now they have taken on these sorts of things. You was saying that Cris is home, well I only wish I had half his luck. I suppose it won't effect him from going back to the school teaching.

We are living on the fat of the land over hear just at present, plenty of poultry and pork, they are what the French people left behind when the push was on.

Well that's all the news at present .

Remember to all.

With the best of love

From your loving cousin Leslie

"Those Big Birds Do Not Lay Any Eggs" C.Anderson

Pte C.G.Anderson

22cd M.C. Coy

A.I.F.

France

5/5/18

Dear Colina

Just a short note wishing this to find you in the very of health as it leaves me at present.  I have note been at all well for the past few weeks cos (?) & you must know that our task  has not been altogether to easy.  But I must say I am enjoying myself very much and I never felt better in my life than  I am now at present I was a church this morning.  And I am going tonight every thing is lovely at this place where I am.  I am still in convalescent yet I will be back with Tom any day now.  This is tray Bon.  Here fritzy cannot throw his ironfoundrys at us.  Or them big birds do not lay any eggs on us at nights and there is no wearing gas masks and walking in mud.  This will do me.  Only where Tom my brother is I must be.  I will always do my Duty well Colina I have no news so I will close wishing you my best wishes.

From. Yours

Sincerely Charlie

"Poor Charlie" T.Anderson

Somewhere in France May 4/18

Dear Colina

Just a hurried line in answer to your most welcome letter Feb 21 and very pleased to hear you were all well I also had a letter from Emma I was sorry to hear of her poor Fathers Death also poor old Andy well Colina I have not heard from poor Charlie since they took him to hospital he promised to write as soon as he landed in hospital so I think they have sent him to blighty as he was very bad I have a bundle of letters to send to him as soon as he lets me know where he is.  I had a letter from Brother Bill just before we left Belg he had just come out of hospital Rube is still in hospital he will be sent to aussie as soon as they patch his arm up a bit I have not heard from Don lately he is getting plenty stouch and no time for letter writing for a time I hope his good luck sticks to him through the piece, I and Charlie had a good evening withAlic Spence before we came down here he looks farelyold on it his hair being gray makes him look older he is driving a motor lorry and they get a pretty rough spin there is not to many easy cops for a private in this caper, I had a bundle of letters from Qld (?) this mail and my Dear kiddies Photos Vera is a fine big girl now and the two little soldiers looks in the pink of health I think they will all be married before I get back well Colina we have plenty of wet cold weather today is the first time we have seen the sun for some time, I cannot tell you any more news but I wish I was (Lout?) of it as we are all well dearColina I cannot write a deacent letter here but ths is just to let you know that I am still on this little Boll of mud but I wish I was on the aussie mud it would do for my (cut?) well Dear Colina this will conclude in conclusion may this letter carry to you the very best wishes that I can send from far away across the sea fare the well but not good bye

God be With you I Remain Your Sincere Friend

Tom Anderson

"Gone From Me Forever" C.Anderson

France 15/3/18

Dear Colina I received your letters and was very please to here from you I also had some from you lately that was dated the time I was wounded I thought I had missed some of your letters Poor old Rueben has got his arm broke in two places I hope he gets to Australia this time he has been a very good soldier as game as you could make him Donal is in Parris on leave.  Will has not come over from Blighty.  I am in the same unit as tom all my mates in the Battalion are gone from me for ever They are only one out of nine of us left two with me.  You mention in your letter that Chris Cameron was returning he is lucky well Colina I have very little news to tell you Tom wishes to be remembered to you address my letters 22nd M.Gunn. boy A.I.F Well I must close wishing you all the best of luck remember me Dug and Dad

From Yours

Sincerely Charles G Anderson

"Someone Better than I" D.Anderson

France

3.3.18

Dear Colina

A few lines to let you know that we are all well We have had a few days fine weather but it did not last long & we are getting snow again & it is as cold as B-l.s (?) again now I received the chronicles you sent Thanks very much for your kindness I saw your name & Lucys in the list the fancy Dress Ball so I hope you had a good time I saw Les a few days ago & he is tip top he is such a doer so I hope he has a good spin this time in action I did not get a letter from anyone this mail so I thought I would write you an Doll a few lines as I won’t have the chance for a few weeks now as we are not always free to write I have not seen the brothers lately so I wont see them now for some time as we never know were they are most of the time Charlie is with Tom now I had a letter from him and Tom last night I am sending you a letter from Cathie Spence so I am going to send it to you so you can see its true about Son.  I jut wrote to her for a joke as I did not think it was true Les said she is a very nice girl I may go & have a look at them when I go on leave again Les said he had a grand time with them.  I will be going on leave in about twelve weeks time  As I am going to Paris any day now when I get the chance.  We get leave to Blightyevery six months now so it is something to look to look forward to Well Colina I am going to ask you are you in the same mind yet as when you wrote to me when you went home from Melbourne have you got any one else yet.  I have heard that you have so I would like you to let me know if I am still in the bad books with you as I am full up of being alone now.  You can guess the rest.  So I would like to hear from you first but I know my answer from you befor I get it but it will be the last time I will have to ask you.  So I hope you wont be offended with me.  But it’s a bit hard to read your letters as a frend but I suppose its all in the lifetime and I only had myself to blame as I should of seen long befor that you wanted someone better than I.  But I will always think the same of you as befor no matter who ever you have I have sent you all a card each so I hope you get them.  I wrote to you an Lucy last weekso excuse this scribble as its Sunday today & I have been going all day & I am dead tired

 So the best of luck to you & best wishes from Don

(Ed note: Donald and Colina married after the war, and are my great grandparents)

"10 or 12 Years Time" C.Anderson

Dear Colina just a line wishing this to find you as well as it leaves me at present + also the boys Will has been landed back in England well he has not got cold feet like a lot more I can name in Rushworth.  I am in the 22ndM.Gun Company now with tom.  Rueben is in the 3rdDivision head quarters I am glad you got the Photos all right they were not the best by any means I will send you some better ones when I go to Blighty that wont be long I hope Well Colina I have very little news this time I will drop you a line next week.  The weather is improving over here now it is about time too.  I like the M.Guns far better than the infantry I left a very good battalion but most of my mates have been killed or wounded I hope to home in about 10 or 12 years time if all goes well.  Well I must ring off

 Wishing you the best of luck from Yours Sincerely Charles

"Over the Top" C.Anderson

Somewhere in France 15.2.18

Dear Colina 

just a line wishing this to find you as well as it leaves me at present. All the other boys are well. I was with Don and Tom on Sunday, they are both looking well. Poor old Tom is just the same old stick. I am so glad Bob got his discharge They are a few about Rushworth. O.neills. Mac Cardles and Howes and a few more that should fill up his place, him being a married man.

Wehave  s (?) one heavy snow here this last few weeks it as been raining today, it makes every think very bad over here when it is raining.  I met Harry Bailey last night he is well.The Two Johnson Boys are in the 37. Les Spence has not come back yet, I do not know how they do it, put in 8 or 9 months in blighty. Leo Burns is in the 37 Band he was only in the line 25 minutes and got hit in the leg. I have been I have been (ed note:  repetition is authors own, at page break) in France a little over 10 months now and I have been over the top 5 times they are men here that have been in France 15 months and has not been over the top, as soon as a bit of a push comes on the get sick or get out of it some how.  I have been in 3 big advances Messiens and Ypres and Pascisindale and the last few hours just before I was to be relieved I had to go from the front post over two miles to the rear to Carry up Bombs and I got a bit of a crack. I was only away 8 weeks, just came back in time to go in the line, I was in the line 32 days and Seventy five of us was picked out for a raid. Well we carried out that raid we had 4 men killed and 12 wounded,  it was one of the best raids that ever Carried out on the western front we killed about 100 Germans in 25 minutes. I only got two I shot one in the back and he never give me any more trouble I bayoneted – One young fellow killed 16 fritzys with bombs,  he got an M.M I am sorry to say he got killed him self two days after.  the chap that was in front of me got a M.M. but he never deserved it, he was the biggest Coward I ever seen, as soon we got in on old fritzy this chap had to Call on me, I came up and run back for is life.  I was second in and last out of our Partey, us Boys do not think any think of a meadle has the ones the wins them never get them, I have seen Officers with meadles and when they are well down a Dug out away from the Shells N.G.O and Privates has to do all the work so when we all get back to Australia these fellows with meadles wont be so flash. I seen M. Police getting M.Ms a little wile ago and they miles behind fireing line. as long as I get home with a sound Boddy I will be sater fied they are plenty of Cold foots in England that has not seen the line yet.  Well Colina, you will be surprise to hear that our Death Rolls for this last four months as been 20000 and wounded and killed 48 thousand. it is impossible to describe any think like these western front Battles, they are to frightfull to mention.  I was up the line today we are in reserves now the First and Second Division are in the line and the 3rdand 4th are in reserve the 5th is out resting. I sopose we will be going in any day now the Boys in the line did not look to bright on it they were up to there waist in mud ever think is all over mud a Chap is very lucky if he gets wounded and gets out alive

 

(Ed note :  While there are no more pages of the same type of paper with this letter there is another type of note paper marked with YMCA with the Australian Imperial FORCE. Which contains the end of a letter that seems to be in the same shade of ink and was filed in another plastic sleeve with it seems to have no flowing context.  I am going to assume that it is actually the end of this letter and transcribe it below.)

Wright soon tell Doll I have had no letters for a long time now I am going to Paris for a few days and then I will be in time for Blighty.  I will ring off from

Yours,

Faithfully

Charles. Anderson

 

Address of A.Corp

39mBattalion

O.A.S.

France

Never put any other address

Ed note: spelling and grammar have been for the most part reproduced as per original, with some punctuation to improve readability.

"You Can Guess the Rest" D.Anderson

France

Feb 8 1918

 

Dear Colina

I received your ever welcome letter & was pleased to hear from you I had a letter from Lucy also dated 13.12.17 I am pleased to hear about Chris And I wish him the best of luck & a safe return.  I will look Will up when He returns as the rep (?) that he is in is just at hand so I will find him out.  Les in our div I saw him a few days ago but did not have time to have a talk to him so I hope to see him again in a few days time I have not seen the boys for a few weeks now I had a letter from Charlie last night & he said that Tom is out for a rest & so are we for a few days.  Well its what we call a rest you can guess the rest.  I had such a nice letter from Cathie Spence.  I am sorry now that I did not go an see them but I will go the next time as I will get my next leave in about five months from Now and I will see it in the good old summer time I hope.  I must ask her is it true about heran Son.  She is sure to ask me where I got the news from so I must put the blame on you for the time as I know you will go off but I wont hear you so it wont matter.  I am sending you some silks for a present so I hope you get them.  I could not send you anything for xmas as we were far from the reach of them then so it is better late than never I am sending some to Doll as well I will send some cards and date them last year & don’t you put my pot on.  I think Lucy will have a win this time so they cannot say that he as cold feet And I hope who ever you have you will be able to say the same don’t forget the boys that have gave up all as there will be plenty to return.  Bill Pettard is returning to Australia one of the lads had a letter from him he was a good old sport and he just what you said he was, a hard doer We have not herd any more of Delcassy since.  He was not to bad. WellColina I think that I have told you all for this time I will write you again next week.  Trusting this finds you in the pink

From

Yours Sincerely

Don Anderson

"Plenty in Rushworth to take his place" C.Anderson

4/2/18

Somewhere in Belgium

 

Dear Colina just a short note as I wrote you a long letter in a green envelope I hope you get it I was very please to get your letter dated 26 nov, and glad you got the cards and Photos you ort to get more yet.  I will send you some better ones when I got to Blighty as you cannot get any good ones in this part of the world.  Rueben Don and Tom are out for a rest I am dodging the shells but we cannot dodge the mud it is no Bon now the weather has been fairly good this last few days but the nights are very cold.  I hope to have a good spell when I come out this time.  I will send Lucy a photo next month I do not think I have missed to many of your letters and I can do with all the mail I can get it to France.  I met Jim McLeod he did know that his Brother was killed till he came down to see us I was the first one he met but I never told him I let him go down to the 37th Batt Jim is in the hospital at present I went up to the 7th Batt to see him but he was sent to hospital I would like to see him sent home he has had a good cut now he has been over here close on 3 (?) years now They are plenty in Rushworth to take his placeMacardles, Howes and ONeals I dont know how they can lift there heads and talk to people that has Brothers or Sons over here I would like to see them over here for a few hours it would wake them up any how I don’t think we will want them I hope

 

(Ed note: End of this letter is missing.  It was incorrectly filed together with a letter from Don Anderson presumably as they were both pencil written and looked similar, however, transcription of the contents and closer inspection of the handwriting reveals they are from 2 different people and unfortunately the end of Charlie’s and the beginning of Don’s letters are both missing)

 

"Get a Ripple On" D.Anderson

France

Jan 23.1918

 

Dear Colina

I received your welcome letter & was pleased to hear from you.  I saw all the brothers on Sunday last and they are all well.  I was glad to hear of Bills return.  As I gave up looking for him over hear.  I was very sorry to hear about Ben Jones Jim McLeod went to see is brother Don so you can tell what a shock he got as we thought that he was all right.  Les is on is way back home Charlie had a letter from Cathie Spence to say that he had gone back to France.  Jack Peel is over hear.  Delcassy & Bill Pettardhave gone to London sick.  We may get some mail now Bill Pettard is away as he used to get a bag to himself every time.  I don’t know how he can answer them all.  He is a grand chap we used to have some good times.  Delcassy only got a hit on his arm.  He seemed fine and it gave him a few days spell they will be able to have a good time when they are all right again as they are two hard cases.  I wonder is there any truth about Son &Cathies she must be some girl to take his fancy.  I must write to her Charlie is going to go up to see her when he goes on leave we will know then if it is right or not just fancy Bill getting married.  I will soon have to get a ripple on now or I will miss the bus.  Is Mick getting on all right again?  The dancing must be getting too good for him but I hope to hear that he is well again.  I did not send you any xmas cards as they are far from our reach just now.  I will have to send some later.  I wrote to Lucy last week.  Well Colina I cannot think of any more to write so I will have to draw these few lines to a close trusting they find you in the best of health as it leaves me the same.

With kind regards & Best wishes, I remain yours sincerely,

Don Anderson

"Keep the Home Fires Burning" Anon

Somewhere in France

Jan 15/1918

To that poor old keep the home fires burning chap in Ausy (sic), what a hard rough life you must have, Bill. I am so sorry for you when you want to come to the war and the women will not let you come. Poor old Bill, that's the worst of being good looking. I bet you often curse yor good looks when you hear what and read what glorious times and what fun we are having over here. Books, money, books, pretty frenchies, books, money, books, food and books, Frenchy girls to wait on you, lovely feather beds to sleep on, get up when you like and go to bed when you like, it must be hard on you, poor good looking Bill, when you read about these things, and you out there in those awful, wet, Ausy rains and cold cold winds without a shelter, only the skies for cover.

Robert MacTier Victoria Cross Winner

Misses Cameron

May 2nd 1917

Dear Girls,

I'm writing this for both of you, as you both wished for a photo & this is the only one I have.  You can toss up who is to have it. Thank you both very much for your good wishes. I'm enjoying life in the usual old way. One has oneself to blame I think if you do not have a good time. Well girls I must close as space is limited. Trusting all you folk are well. Remember me to your mother and father. Yours sincerely, R. MacTier

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_MacTier

"See Dear Australia Again" C.Anderson

Belgium 30/12/17

Dear Colina just a line wishing this to find you in the best of health as it leaves me also Rueben Tom andDonal I met Donal last night I see Tom every night Don just came back from leave it is very cold over hear now it has been snowing lately we had a fairly good xmas we are having a fair rest now we have not been long out of the line Well Colina I do not know how long before we will see Dear Australia again I hope it is not very long the other boys look well me and Tom had tea together onxmas night he is still the same old stick well Colina I do not know what to wright about I hope you got the cards and hankerchiefs allright well I will ring off wishing my best of wishes from Yours Truly

Charles