France
4/11/16
Dear Everybody.
Here we are again & still in the same old place, & very little more doing than in my last epistles. Since writing last I am again in receipt of an N.Z. mail, & very interesting too. Within the fortnight I have received letter from all parts of the little Dominion, so now you will understand how representative this will have to be. If I remember rightly it is only a few letters back, that I was wondering what had gone wrong with the Orepuki people. Well I am afraid I must have been a little premature for a couple of days ago yours of Sept. 3rd came to hand Jack. While I am thinking of Orepuki I must let you know, (but perhaps it has already reached you,) that Fred Wilson is getting his Commission
[Page 2]
shortly. So far as I know it has not yet come through Divisional orders, though it may have done for it is some time now since I saw any of them. I have not been fortunate to meet him yet despite the fact that his Bttn is quite close to me here. Of late I have seen quite a number of our old officers, those that are left of them. Last Saturday night I went up to the trenches & had tea with Capt Hargest. He is in great form, & was only a few days back from having had 10 days in Blighty. I suppose you know that he lost his brother on the Somme, poor beggar he is taking it like a little Briton. The first news he had of his death was to go along the trench & find him himself, was it not too bad. However, in speaking of it to me he said that the operations of the two following days were such that he was very much
[Page 3]
relieved to know that his brother was out of it. He at least knew where he was; where as if he had been in the advance he would have been worrying about him & it was only 1 chance in 100 he would have had of getting through, & had he gone under he would in all probability never have known where he was. Up to time of writing my transfer has not come through, though it might have done, unknown to me. I will have to depend on some one informing me, for I never see the orders myself. The weather conditions are still not good, & needless to say we are moving about in a sea of mud. What these roads etc, are going to be like by the end of winter I can’t think. The line in this section is more or less pretty quiet. On fine days we have artillery strafes’ &
[Page 4]
occassionally a night raid or two. The artillery has been fairly busy today, but tomorrow perhaps they won’t fire a shot. During the week I have been fortunate enough to make friends with some officer of some very heavy guns that are dotted in & around here, & they asked me along to see the toy, also to go along some time when they were doing a shoot. Needless to say I have availed myself of the first opportunity & now know what it is like to be in the vicinity of these engines of war when they are being used. What it must be like on one of the modern battleships, we have not the slightest conception. Whilst doing my rounds a few days ago I ran across Jack Hamilton driving a limber wagon
[Page 5]
along the road. Strange to say I had been thinking just a few minutes before that it might just be possible that I would meet him on the road some day. Given long enough I may meet all the Thornbury & Riverton boys yet. Jack is in the transport of one of the Engineer Companies, & is just the same old stick. I think it is going to take more than a trip to the Somme to make a different man of Jack. He is a very reticent coon got to be. I asked him if he had had any mail from home lately & he said, “Oh yes”! but volunteered nothing more. Nothing daunted I popped a few more & his answers were invariably Yes & No. The silences began to become ominous so I bid him good day. His reply was just
[Page 6]
what you might expect. “Well I suppose I must be moving on, & perhaps I will see you again Ernie.” Mine was perhaps. The Brown boys are going still & are I believe in pretty good form. Bob Tapper is still with the squadron, he is now Quarter Master Sgt, & just the same shifty fellow he used to be in N.Z. He was telling me that Bob Greenslade is getting married & also showed me a photo of the intended, & I must say it is not a bad hit for Bob, if looks go for anything. From the same source I learn that Mrs Charl. Greenslade is not keeping well at all. Have not heard from them for ages.
[Page 7]
I take it for granted that you are hearing from the hoopers themselves what an anxious time they are passing through just now, with regard to the condition of Mr & Mrs Hooper. In a note received from Kathleen a couple of days ago I was pleased to hear that they had received a long letter from Rothie. They never forget to drop me a line once or twice a week, either one or the other of them. I was rather anxious over Mrs Hoopers operation, because she was in such a run down state before it. However Kathleen & Gwen both say that she is going on every well & that the doctors think she will have much better health when
[Page 8]
once she is well again. I hope to goodness it will be so, for if ever people have had a row to hoe I think they have. I am afraid the remaining brother is on his way to the front again, not in the immediate future, but if the war carries on for long it is on the cards that he will come out again. During the week we had a visit from Massey & Mard. They were through this place & also presented medals to those who had gained awards on the Somme & also some of those who had gained them in Gallopli too. I did not manage to get to the function but had I known soon enough I could have
[Page 9]
there all-right. I guess by this time they will be back in Blighty again. Massey is to have the “freedom of the City” conferred upon him. I wonder how long they are going to remain in the old art. What you had to say with reference to the N.Z. War Loan was exceedingly interesting Jack. If that is not an arguary of the determination of the people of the Dominion, & of the soundness of the financial position of the country what is. At the time you wrote Jack the whole country was in a state of expectancy over
[Page 10]
the entrance of Romania into the war, but I can assure you not more so than we out here, & many have been the speculations as to what the effect was going to be. At time of writing the Roumanians have suffered the reverses of which you are all perfectly aware, & is now heavily engaged in holding the enemy up in the passes. The point at issue is, can she hold them there, & can she drive them out of what little bit of their territory, the Austro Turko & German forces are at present holding. That is the vital question, always assuming of course that the Dobrudja is more or less a side issue only
[Page 11]
& never intended to be anything more by the Germans themselves. At the same time it is a point of vital importance to Roumania & Russia & must not be lost sight of. The whole German scheme is very apparent to everyone, & if carried to a successful issue is a masterpiece in strategy & an operation that will have far reaching effects on the termination of the war. On the other hand should they not get any further, it is likely to prove a very costly step indeed. The German plan of campaign was unique, & resembles exactly the crushing blow they delivered to Serbia this time last year.
[Page 12]
To strike a heavy crushing blow at Roumania, & gaining a quick decisive decision, was their intention, choosing too, the right time of year for doing so. Should they not at worst, succeed in putting Roumania under, they hoped at least, to seize 2/3 of the country by the time the bad weather set in, & then trust to the winter months being so severe as to impede Russian & Roumanian concentration of troops, & to give them plenty of time to organise their defensive positions, as they have done in Serbia. Up to the present, they have not succeeded, & it looks as if they are not going to succeed, & we most sincerely hope they won’t.
[Page 13]
It is now Sunday eve, & a day more unlike a Sund. would be hard to conceive. I spent the morning in paying the men, no small item in a scattered command such as I have here. Tomorrow I hope to have the job complete. Nothing of great importance has happened since last night, but this afternoon we hear that the French, following up their signal victory at Verdun the other day, have now consolidated their line in the same place as it was before the German offensive of last February began. That is news indeed, & when we consider that Fort Vaux has been re-captured from the Germans without an infantry action at all, it gives us food for much thought. This in the Fort that it cost the Germans 200000 men
[Page 14]
& many weeks hard fighting to capture, now won back by an artillery action. Exactly what effect this is going to have on future operations, it is very difficult to suggest. At any rate in is an absolute set off to the German gains in Roumania. This afternoon we have it unofficially from Signals Service that the British have captured Bapaume. We are a little inclined to doubt this as we have not been expecting its capture for some time get. However should it be true, it almost goes to prove that our common friend has taken away from this front, for operations in the East, more men than he could well afford. Enough of war for I guess you get nothing else in the papers.
[Page 15]
I read with considerable interest what you had to say with reference to prices & various industries in N.Z. Jack. I had no idea things had got to such a pitch, for I have not been getting papers from N.Z. regularly. There seems to be some trouble over the papers, everybody has the same complaint. However if it is essential that we should sacrifice either one or the other part of our mails, we willingly let the papers go if it assures us getting our letters. I am not surprised at what has been dealt out to Chisolm, the wonder is that he got off so long. I am looking forward to hearing of an interesting season for the stables this year. Now that Charl. has left it is up to either Tom or Jim to buck up & let us know what is
[Page 16]
taking place on the old block. I suppose Charl will be well on his way to Egypt by this, for I don’t think he will get past there, & I should not be surprised but what the Mtd Bde is in for some very interesting fighting in the spring. I must drop Charl a line, perhaps tonight, it ought to catch him about he time he arrives. I had a letter from him dated 9th Sept & he was expecting to leave about the 20th. Judging by its tone he would not be sorry to get away either. At time of last mail from N.Z. you had just got rid of the big floods. What a time you must have had, one of the worst on record I should say.
[Page 17]
Now I think it is nearly time I put a peg in. Regarding addressing of letters, it is a first rate idea addressing the c/o of Hoopers. In the event of me having a change of address they are always sure to have it & can readdress them, & they reach me much more quickly. Kindest regards to all & sundry.
Au Revior for the present.
Your,
Affect Brother,
E.S. McI.
